England has been called “invaders” and “usurping pirates” by Argentina’s vice-president in a bizarre rant of tonight’s World Cup semi-final.

Political tensions linger between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands, which boiled over into conflict in 1982.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said pre-match it would be “madness” to mix up sport and politics, but his nation’s vice-president Victoria Villarruel didn’t take the same viewpoint in a message on X.

“Tomorrow we play against the usurping pirates,” the post began. “This isn’t just another match. I’m not going to be politically correct or cold-hearted; against the English, it’s always something more.

“It’s the Malvinas, it’s Diego, it’s Leo’s last one, and it’s putting the brakes on the invaders. Go Argentina! Because until our last breath, we’re going to claim what’s ours!”

He shared that one change he ‘holds quite close to his heart’.

The Tartan Army well and truly left an impression on Boston during their World Cup journey, with Boston and Glasgow even becoming sister cities. However, one member has shared some of the Scottish things he would add to the American city to make it even better.

Taking to Instagram to share his views, account user @giodoesinterviews shared that some of his new Scottish additions are very ‘close to his heart’. Sharing his love for Boston, he also asked his viewers to give their own suggestions of how they could elevate Massachusetts with a Scottish twist.

In the clip, Giovanni said: “Here’s some things in Scotland that I think would improve Boston as a city. First thing is morning rolls. These are the best, I think Americans would love them and they’re a lot better than bacon, egg, and cheese.”

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He continued: “Second thing is something I use quite a lot – public transport. You know the only downfall to Boston was trying to taxi it everywhere. I mean, I think I saw like two buses in my whole time and one was like a boat that could go into the water.

“The third one I don’t really use a lot but these water fountains in Glasgow. I don’t really get much use out of them but see if I was in like 30 degree heat the way it is in Boston, you can just get water out of a tap for free.”

The final improvement Gio shared was the one he was the most passionate about. He said: “This is something I hold quite close to my heart – chippies. I couldn’t find any good chippies in Boston or a chippy in general for that matter.

“I had a fish and chips from the Cheesecake Factory but that was stinking and I’m pretty sure it had been sitting there for a couple of days.”

Many Bostonians were quick to amend Gio’s improvements as quite a few highlighted the food and transport services in the city.

One person wrote: “Did you use the subway system when you were in Boston? I’m pretty sure it has a better network than Glasgow.”

With another viewer also noting: “The funniest thing is that Boston has one of the best public transportation in the entire US. Try going to Vegas or Orlando and you’ll see why.”

Meanwhile, others urged Giovanni to return to the States so they could show him some local favourites for eating out.

A third commenter noted: “There are places that make a decent fish and chips. Mcgonagles in Dorchester is pretty far from downtown but I’ve heard they have one of the best.”

With another Bostonian also echoing: “Locals don’t eat at Cheesecake. Come back and we will show you the local spots!”

Another viewer also noted: “I think the one thing I noticed from watching all of the Scotland posts, like dozens of different people, was that you guys were eating stuff that we definitely do not eat or consider to be high-quality. So you probably should come back and sample more independent cuisine.”

However, one viewer did pitch their own idea of how to improve Boston, suggesting: “Something that would make Boston better: more Scottish people.”

This article contains spoilers from tonight’s episode of EastEnders, which is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

After more than four years away from EastEnders, Gray Atkins, the monstrous lawyer with a murderous streak a mile wide, is set to make shocking return to Walford.

Before the crazed killer makes his comeback, let’s reacquaint ourselves with one of Walford’s most evil residents…

Who is Gray and who plays him?

Albert Square’s most sinister solicitor first set foot on the Square in Walford in 2019 with wife Chantelle Atkins (Jessica Plummer). They appeared to have the picture perfect marriage. Behind closed doors, Gray made Chantelle’s every day a waking nightmare by inflicting severe mental, emotional and physical abuse, not to mention coercive control and gaslighting.

The iconic soap villain is portrayed by actor Toby-Alexander Smith, also known for playing Jason Carwell in the BBC medical soap Doctors, and Lor-Ran in SyFy’s Superman spinoff Krypton. He is married to Amy Walsh, best known to Emmerdale fans as Tracy Shankley. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Bonnie, in 2021, and in March this year, they introducedtheir second, Nell.

Toby has spoken openly about his struggle with male post-natal depression, and the importance of being a positive male role models to both his daughters.

Who did Gray kill?

During his three year stint on the Square, Gray racked up a bone-chilling body count of three beloved Walford residents.

His first victim was, tragically, Chantelle.

In a terrifying twist uncommon in a soap domestic abuse story, Chantelle was unable to escape no matter how hard she tried. Even after suffering a miscarriage when Gray pushed her down the stairs, Chantelle was gaslit by her abuser into believing that it was her fault she lost their baby.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, EastEnders took advantage of the break in filming by showing how much Gray’s toxic behaviour had worsened over lockdown. Finally, Chantelle reached breaking point and began secretly consulting a divorce lawyer. Unfortunately, Gray discovered her plans to flee and in harrowing scenes, furiously shoved his wife onto an open dishwasher, causing fatal injuries.

While he managed to play the grieving husband and stage Chantelle’s death as a horrific accident, not everybody was convinced.

Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) smelled a rat and eventually caught Gray in a lie, using her own history with an abusive relationship to recognize the signs of control. It didn’t take her long to piece all the facts together and realise the awful truth – Gray killed Chantelle.

This discovery sealed Tina’s fate.

Desperate to silence her, Gray attacked Tina and strangled her to death.

Gray hid Tina’s body under the floorboards of the Argee Bhajee and tricked her family into believing she went on the run.

Then came Gray’s third and final victim, Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami).

While Gray’s other murders were committed out of rage and desperation, Kush met his end due to sheer, green-eyed jealousy. The bloodthirsty lawyer developed a dangerous obsession with the hoop-eared darling of the Queen Vic, the iconic Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty). Needless to say, when Kush and Whitney got engaged, it drove Gray into a jealous frenzy.

Discovering the couples’ plan to leave Walford to start afresh, Gray followed them to the London Underground. There a violent struggle on the platform ensued which dramatically spilled onto the tracks, where a vengeful Gray claimed his third victim by pushing Kush into the path of an oncoming train.

How did Gray’s reign of terror end?

It would be another year before Gray was finally brought to justice. His downfall came at the hands of Whitney, and his second wife,Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams).

Unaware of his blood-soaked past, Chelsea had a whirlwind romance with Gray, becoming pregnant with his child and getting married soon afterwards.

Then Chelsea discovered that Gray murdered his first wife.

Terrified, she began plotting her escape as Gray started exhibiting coercive and controlling tendencies again. The experience was so terrifying that Chelsea went into labour as a result of her harrowing discoveries and gave birth to their son, Jordan (Izaiah Hagan-Brown).

Assisted by Whitney and Kheerat Panesar (Jaz Deol), Chelsea gathered evidence and records Gray confessing to all his crimes while on the phone to the police. With his crimes finally exposed to all on the Square, Gray was arrested and sentenced to life in prison.

Why is Gray back and what happens now?

Gray might be rotting in prison, but that doesn’t mean he can’t pose a threat. Since Jordan suffered life-changing injuries from a hit-and-run, Chelsea’s been so overwhelmed that she reluctantly accepted assistance Gray’s grandmother Sheila Atkins (Sheila Ruskin) – who is of course, still visiting Gray in prison.

In tonight’s episode, the villain is already pushing Sheila to do anything she can to stay in Jordan’s life, so she can provide him with updates about his son.

However, an obstacle to Gray’s twisted plan is Chelsea’s mother, the unstoppable Denise Fox (Diane Parish).

Despite struggling with a heartbreaking leukemia diagnosis, the no-nonsense Mama Bear of Clan Fox-Hubbard is still very much in charge when she warns Sheila to stay away from her family in tonight’s episode.

Unfortunately, Gray always had a problem with taking no for an answer.

Surely it’s only a matter of time before Gray escapes prison and tries to bring fresh slaughter to the Square… but will he claim victim number four?

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Emergency services were called to a two-vehicle crash on Tanfield Lea Road, Stanley, just after noon yesterday (July 14).

Three people were taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for further treatment.

Both vehicles were recovered, and the road was reopened around 2pm.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We received a call at 12.03pm on Tuesday 14 July to reports of a road traffic incident on the junction of West Street and Tanfield Lea in Stanley, County Durham.

“We dispatched two ambulance crews to the scene and transported three patients to UHND for further treatment.”

A County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) spokesperson said: “We were called at 12.06pm yesterday (July 14) to a road traffic collision involving two cars on Tanfield Lea Road at the junction with West Street, Stanley.

“Two fire engines from High Handhold and Consett Fire Stations attended. Crews left the scene at 1.20pm”

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “We were called to reports of a two-vehicle road traffic collision in Tanfield Lea Road, Stanley. The fire service and ambulance service also attended and one person had to be cut out of a vehicle. Three people are believed to have been hurt.”

England and Argentina met in another quarter-final in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium at the 1986 World Cup, with the Falklands War four years earlier providing the backdrop.

It was the day of Diego Maradona’s infamous “Hand Of God” – as well as his brilliant second goal – as Argentina won 2-1, and then went on to lift the World Cup.

France ’98 delivered a classic last-16 game best remembered for a wound-up David Beckham being sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone, and the solo goal that brought an 18-year-old Michael Owen to global superstar status.

Argentina prevailed on penalties to provide yet more World Cup heartache for the Three Lions.

There was still lingering ill-feeling between the two teams when they met again four years later in a World Cup group game under Sapporo’s dome in Japan.

This time it was redemption for Beckham, who scored the winner with a first-half penalty, but Argentina complained long and loud – insisting Owen had dived amid a challenge from future Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Tuchel said: “It is a very big rivalry between two big footballing nations.

“I could say the history is irrelevant but I’m not sure. The players are aware of it. When a fixture provides so many iconic moments, you can’t say it is just another football match.”

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni – who represented his nation at the 2006 World Cup – added: “We all have stories from that past time and history and it all makes it very emotional.”

It is this backdrop, this history of acrimony, that elevates this encounter above those other semi-finals.

England have had many memorable games in the past six decades – but winning this match would outstrip them all and offer the chance for a historic triumph in Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain.

Joe Swash seemingly hinted at his next TV venture as he also shared an update on the return of his show with his wife

Joe Swash has teased what appears to be his next TV venture as he also shared an update on the return of his BBC reality show with his wife, Stacey Solomon.

Stacey, Joe and their family have been busy filming for the next series of their reality show, Stacey & Joe, which first started on the BBC last year.

The programme, which aired two series in 2025, sees the pair let the cameras into their beloved home, Pickle Cottage, to follow their lives as they document the highs and lows of life juggling work, play, parenting and their ever-growing menagerie of pets.

The BBC then confirmed in April that Stacey & Joe will be back with the Solomon-Swash’s for a third run. According to the broadcaster, “the series, which follows the warmth, chaos and humour of family life at Pickle Cottage, follows Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash as they juggle their busiest chapter yet.”

In an Instagram Story update at the end of last month, Stacey informed her millions of followers that she and Joe were busy filming for the show, specifically the pieces to camera in which they sit down together on the sofa and discuss what has been going on that day, or what the show is focusing on at that moment.

She explained how they had been filming those specific moments at her neighbour, Farmer Scott’s, and later shared a glimpse at the filming. Stacey posted a picture from behind the scenes, simply with a white heart emoji, hinting that the recording is still ongoing for the show’s much-anticipated return.

Now, Joe has confirmed that filming is still taking place, which comes as he continues to document the progress of his own fishing lake and glamping site.

Sharing a smiling snap to his Instagram Story of himself and a camera crew, the former EastEnders star also teased he had more filming ahead, as he wrote: “Lake meetings this morning, now filming with the @staceyandjoetv crew and then filming another show this evening – it’s a busy one!”

It comes after Stacey recently revealed the arrival of her and Joe’s new addition to their menagerie of pets at Pickle Cottage. Sharing a sweet video of the arrival of two ponies, and their children meeting them for the first time, the Loose Women star said: “We are officially Pony Foster Parents [crying face and horse emojis].

“Meet Thumbelina & Mermaid. They are two girls who were rescued by the incredible Redwings Horse Sanctuary. Thumbelina was seriously neglected when she was rescued by Redwings who saved her & mermaid’s owner could no longer look after her [single tear crying emoji]. So we are so grateful to be able to offer them a home. In the hope that they’re happy and want to stay forever one day.”

She continued: “We have a grass area sectioned off for them & also a dry area. Redwings will check in and visit us and give us all of the guidance we need to be the best pony parents for mermaid and Thumbelina. One of my dearest friends Lianne from the incredible Hopefield Animal sanctuary is going to be our Pony hand/extra pony Mumma. As we do not take rescuing animals lightly and want to be the absolute best foster parents we can be.”

They’re the YouTube power couple known for sharing every aspect of their lives, but for the past six months, Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, and Alfie Deyes have vanished almost entirely from social media.

They disappeared without a warning: no goodbye, no statement explaining their disappearance.

Yet fans maintained hope, pointing to Alfie’s sporadic Instagram posts as proof that the couple, who soared to fame as ‘vloggers’ in 2012, would return to their regularly scheduled programming.

However, signs are emerging that this may never happen.

I can reveal that Alfie, who has always shared his love for photography and filming, has even started selling his camera equipment on Vinted.

In recent days, the 32-year-old has uploaded Canon camera lenses to the second-hand marketplace. One was originally listed for £600 but the price has already been dropped to £550. It retails for £2,000 on the Canon website.

Another lens, the EF 70-200mm F/2.8 IS II USM, has been listed for £750. A third camera lens, a Samyang fisheye, which retails at around £275, is listed for £130 and was uploaded by Alfie four months ago.

His Vinted account now has more than 5,000 followers and has 154 positive reviews.

Fans have maintained hope that the couple, who soared to fame as ‘vloggers’ in 2012, will return to their regularly scheduled programming

Elsewhere, Zoe, 36, has been posting life updates to her private Instagram account, which only her close friends are allowed to follow – including her best friends and fellow influencers Mark Ferris and Jim Chapman.

While it is unknown what specific content she has shared on the page, @tigerlilyneverland, it seems she is not having a total social media detox, as some originally thought.

Many of Zoe’s loyal fans now say that the news of her private social media activity has come as a ‘slap in the face’.

‘What a slap in the face to all the loyal fans who have supported her for over a decade and who have bought the products she has released, liked the videos she has made, helped drive her engagement and thus increase her earnings via YouTube and Instagram for years,’ one wrote online.

‘She is more than entitled to step away, but when she decided to share her life online, build a community, and profit off that community, she does, in fact, owe them a brief explanation, or a few words. It’s just rude now.’

Over the past six months, I have contacted Zoe and Alfie’s manager, Maddie Chester, on several occasions to get answers for fans and to make sure the couple is well. Maddie has been with them for more than 12 years and has helped their careers flourish.

I have never received a response. In fact, there has been radio silence from the ‘Zalfie’ camp.

That hasn’t stopped the couple from continuing to profit from their business ventures, clothing line Future Self and journal brand Dear Sunday.

The products are still available to buy, and Alfie returned to social media with a one-off post on Zoe’s birthday in March with a discount code.

Alongside a picture of her three-tier cake, Alfie wrote: ‘To celebrate Zoe’s 36th Birthday, we’ve just put 36% off the entire DearSunday website!’

Again, fans were left disappointed that the couple are still trying to cash in on their followers despite not giving anything back.

Ahead of their disappearance from social media, the couple had been gradually reducing their online output, while becoming increasingly protective of their lives.

Some have speculated that Zoe’s disappearance is linked to her children.

Her eldest started school last September, and the couple have spoken openly about limiting her online exposure to protect her privacy now that she’s of school age.

Others were concerned that different issues were behind the couple’s absence. But there have since been sightings that suggest things are well.

Zoella fans have posted about bumping into Zoe and Alfie in their hometown of Brighton.

‘I saw her and the girls at our village fete last weekend. She looked happy, enjoying normal family life,’ one wrote online.

Zoe and Alfie were also pictured on an outing with Zoe’s brother and Strictly Come Dancing star Joe and his partner Dianne Buswell – whom he met on the ballroom competition – shortly after the arrival of their baby boy, Bowden, in March.

Many of Zoe’s loyal fans now say that the news of her private social media activity has come as a ‘slap in the face’

Zoe joins Dianne Buswell and Joe Sugg on a family walk in Sussex with the Strictly couple’s new baby Bowden back in March this year

Elsewhere, behind the scenes, the couple have become embroiled in a bitter countryside row after creating a new home for two donkeys behind their £2million Sussex mansion without planning permission.

They have rankled some of their well-heeled neighbours after three shepherd’s huts, fencing and gates were installed on a five-acre agricultural plot in the affluent village of Hassocks.

Work on the project – which includes a stable built for Zoe’s adopted animals and new access points to the field – started without planning permission being sought from the local council.

Objectors have now accused the social media star of failing to consult them over her plans and claim the development is harming the ‘character and charm of the area’.

Details of the dispute emerged in a belated planning application now submitted to Mid Sussex District Council by Zoe and Alfie.

It’s all a long way from the early days of Zoe’s career. She initially found an audience through blogging before turning to YouTube, where her videos documenting beauty products, shopping trips, house moves, and her personal life attracted millions of viewers.

At the peak of her online fame, she was one of the country’s most recognisable influencers and transformed her following into a multimillion-pound business empire.

She began dating Alfie in 2012 after he found success through his own YouTube channel, PointlessBlog.

The pair soon became one of the best-known couples to emerge from Britain’s ‘vlogging’ boom, building a combined following of more than 20million subscribers. They got engaged in September 2023 after more than a decade together and have two daughters, Ottilie and Novie.

For years, fans followed almost every major stage of their relationship, including their house moves, pregnancies, and family celebrations.

As someone who has followed Zalfie since those early days, I’d love to see the couple return to vlogging. However, I fear they have lost their passion for it.

And, besides, they would have a lot of making up to do with their followers.

The move was introduced last year as a pilot to provide flexibility for people visiting local shops

The one hour grace period for parking in on-street spaces within Controlled Parking Zones in two cities is now being made permanent.

The Infrastructure Minister confirmed drivers in the zones in Newry and Lisburn who have paid for on-street parking will have up to one hour to return to their cars after their paid parking period expires.

The one-hour grace period was initially introduced as a pilot in late 2025 to provide greater flexibility for people visiting local shops, cafés, and other city centre businesses. During this pilot scheme, more than 1,000 drivers availed of the extra flexibility it provided.

Minister Kimmins said: “I am committed to doing all I can to help support local businesses and encourage people to spend more time on the high street. We have all been in the position where we end up taking slightly longer than planned in one of our many fantastic local shops or chatting with friends over a coffee or lunch in a café or restaurant.

“I want people to have the reassurance that they can take that extra time to browse or order another coffee without the worry of having to rush back to their car.

“I introduced the pilot initiative while considering a longer-term approach to on-street parking for Newry and Lisburn that would help meet the needs of local communities, visitors and businesses.

“During the pilot, more than 1,000 drivers availed of the additional flexibility, while the arrangements continued to support the effective flow of traffic. I am therefore pleased to announce that effective immediately these arrangements will be made permanent.

“I encourage all visitors to Newry and Lisburn to continue to park responsibly to ensure we have safer streets, better access for disabled people, support for local businesses and a transport system that works for everyone.”

Eamonn Connolly from Newry Business Improvement District (BID) said: “Newry BID has consistently called for measures that make it easier for people to visit and spend time in our city centre, so we very much welcome the extension of the one-hour parking grace period. It is a positive step for businesses, shoppers and the wider city. We would like to thank the Minister for listening to the concerns of the business community and for her continued support for our city centre.”

Ruth Young, President of Lisburn Chamber of Commerce said: “Every extra minute a visitor spends in Lisburn without watching the clock is good news for our traders. The grace period has made a difference during the pilot, and making it permanent sends a clear message that Lisburn is open, welcoming and easy to spend time in.

“It’s a step in the right direction, but there is more to do for our city centre to compete on a truly level playing field with other retail destinations across Northern Ireland. We thank the Minister for listening to our business community and would encourage her to keep building on this progress.”

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

Keir Starmer pledged ‘wholehearted support’ for Andy Burnham today as he took his last PMQs in the Commons. 

The outgoing premier was cheered into the chamber for the weekly set-piece, with the Speaker praising ‘his public service, his international leadership… his steadfast support for Ukraine‘.

Kemi Badenoch pointed out Sir Keir had predicted she would not last long as Tory leader, quipping: ‘Life comes at you fast!’ 

Sir Keir declined to take a shot at his rival – who was not in the Commons as he prepares to take over in Downing Street on Monday – when asked what advice he would give.

‘I will give my wholehearted support. I want this Labour Government to be a success,’ he said. 

As his wife Lady Starmer and their two children watched from the Commons’ gallery, Sir Keir said he believed he was leaving the country ‘in a better place’. 

Earlier the PM held a final Cabinet meeting in No10, where ministers presented him with a carriage clock.   

Sir Keir has been rushing out a slew of announcements as he tries to forge some sort of legacy, despite being ousted just two years after winning an historic election landslide.

Meanwhile, Mr Burnham has been racking up even more nominations from ‘crawling’ Labour MPs as his coronation moment nears. An extraordinary 369 MPs – 92 per cent of the Parliamentary party – have now endorsed the former Greater Manchester Mayor.

Only one nomination has been made for anyone else, with backbencher Neil Coyle proposing Catherine West for leader – even though she has nominated Mr Burnham. 

‘There was no room left to crawl into Andy Burnham’s backside,’ he told Politico. 

Mr Burnham has been racking up even more nominations from ‘crawling’ Labour MPs as his coronation moment nears

Kemi Badenoch pointed out Sir Keir had predicted she would not last long as Tory leader , quipping: ‘Life comes at you fast!’

Opening PMQs, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle thanked Sir Keir ‘for his public service, his international leadership, particularly in his steadfast support for Ukraine’.

He added: ‘I am sure members will wish to join me in wishing him and his family well in the future.’

Mrs Badenoch said: ‘I remember when I started this job, the Prime Minister was very helpful to me, saying that I wouldn’t last the year. Life comes at you fast…

‘But everyone in politics would do well to remember how quickly political fortunes can change. I know that he has been asked and he’s been diplomatic, but on that note: does he have any advice for his successor?’

A laughing Sir Keir responded: ‘I will give my wholehearted support to my successor. I want this Labour Government to be a success. I want our country to be a success. I shall give my support privately if asked for, not publicly when not asked for.’

After Mrs Badenoch suggested Mr Burnham should be extending the Parliamentary term to face questions next week, Sir Keir replied: ‘As Prime Minister, I’ve participated in over 60 PMQs. Always a pleasure. Always something to look forward to. And I’ve answered, or at least given answers, 2,800 times, and I’m sure she will question my successor in the same way.’

Jockeying for positions in Mr Burnham’s team is at fever pitch, despite him insisting no decisions have been made.

There is briefing from allies of the PM-in-waiting that Ed Miliband’s prospects of becoming Chancellor are waning, with MPs warning the Net Zero Secretary would be too ‘risky’ and businesses taking fright at his left-wing views. 

Shabana Mahmood and Yvette Cooper are among the other names in the frame for the key job. 

Darren Jones, a key ally of Sir Keir, confirmed he was ‘definitely’ not going to remain in post next week, telling LBC he had been ‘writing a handover note’ and ‘tidying up loose ends.’

He admitted it had been difficult to get anything done during the transition period, adding: ‘I’ve not been able to make new decisions in the last couple of weeks. I’ve been able to respond to issues, whether it’s national security related or operational issues, but essentially, I’ve been spending my time making sure that’s looked after.’

Mystery remains over Mr Burnham’s plans on almost all policy areas. 

He gave another vague signal last night after making his first speech in the Commons since returning as an MP last month. 

He told reporters that the cost of living is ‘the issue of our times’, referring once more to his bus projects in Manchester.

‘If we want to connect politics better with people, well, let’s deal with some of the pressures people are under in terms of the everyday cost of transport, the bills that they’re paying. I heard it so often on doorsteps in the campaign,’ he said.

‘You know, life has changed for people, and it’s not necessarily got better. And I think we just need to be relentlessly focused on that.’

Sir Keir, who spent the last two days in France where he bizarrely received the Legion d’honneur from Emmanuel Macron, is said to be sad but philosophical about the crumbling of his political career. 

Cabinet is gifting him a carriage clock this morning after deputy David Lammy organised a whip-round. He is likely to attend the World Cup final in the US on Sunday if England manage to beat Argentina tonight. 

‘It’s not the way he wanted it to end, but he is doing the right thing by the country and the party,’ one close ally told the Daily Mail. 

‘He won’t be shouting from the sidelines.’ 

The outgoing PM held a reception last night for campaigners whose causes he had supported.

Neil Coyle proposed Catherine West for leader – but the ‘flattered’ MP said she has nominated Mr Burnham

There is briefing from allies of the PM-in-waiting that Ed Miliband’s prospects of becoming Chancellor are waning

The Prime Minister said: ‘I’m pleased to have delivered on the promises that I made to many people in this garden, and I’ll make this last promise, which is I will stand with you and walk with you for as long as I’ve got breath in my body.’

In a sign of the closer relationship he has tried to forge with European neighbours, he also attended Bastille Day celebrations in Paris on Tuesday with Emmanuel Macron, who awarded him the Legion d’honneur in recognition of his work with France on European security.

EXCLUSIVE: Affiliated trade unions have sounded the alarm on the running of Scottish Labour.

Scottish Labour is facing calls for sweeping transparency reforms in the wake of the Peter Murrell scandal.

Trade unions have claimed the party’s governance is poor and want full access to information on finance and membership numbers.

Anas Sarwar’s party has led the way in accusing the SNP of secrecy over the Murrell row.

As SNP chief executive, Murrell pled guilty to embezzling over £400,000 of party funds during a twelve year crime spree.

His crimes have led to claims that the SNP’s internal structures are not fit for purpose.

Party treasurers were unable to spot Murrell’s corruption and the SNP’s National Executive Committee was seen as a block on openness.

However, a document obtained by the Record reveals there are also concerns about the running of Labour north of the border.

A briefing note by trade unions affiliated to the party was produced ahead of a meeting of Scottish Labour’s governing Executive last Saturday.

It stated: “The Murrell scandal has shown the inadequacies of SNP governance. The Scottish Labour Party governance arrangements are also inadequate – it cannot continue that the SEC does not have full oversight of finances and membership information.”

Scottish Labour has made no commitment to publish membership figures, with Sarwar refusing to do so.

Sarwar said after the 2024 general election: “Our membership has actually increased since the election but I’m interested in not membership numbers, because parties can all argue about membership numbers.

“It’s well known that a different party other than mine [the SNP] has probably the largest membership number of any political party in the country, but what matters is the number of votes you get, not the number of members you have.”

Scottish Labour has launched an internal review of their Holyrood election defeat to the SNP.

Far reaching changes are expected to be recommended, including a rethink of the link with UK Labour.

Keir Starmer’s performance as Prime Minister is believed to have been a major factor in Sarwar’s defeat and party sources say structural change is inevitable.

Meanwhile, the unions also criticised Labour for their effectiveness at Holyrood since May 7th.

The party secured the convenorship of the Public Audit and Public Petitions Committees – a haul that disappointed the unions.

In their briefing, they said the failure to “vigorously seek” the Economy or Health committees showed a “disconnect” with their members.

Scottish Labour has been contacted.