Balloons and banners also added to the spectacle of the opening.
Such was the success of the opening of a new Greggs Bakery at the Motor Fuel Group’s forecourt at Starbeck Morrisons.
MFG is the UK’s largest forecourt retailer and it says it came up with the idea of having a Gregg’s there as there were no food outlets like it in the area. They tend to be in Starbeck High Street.
The production, titled Gerry and Sewell, is currently running at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal until June 13.
Anarchy Brewery, based in Heaton, has brewed a 4.2% session IPA also called Purely Belter to coincide with the show.
Phil Beaty, operations director at Anarchy Brew Co, said: “Beer and football go hand in hand, so we were over the moon when the show’s production company got in touch a couple of months ago.
Advertisement
“We’re all huge fans of the show – and the film and the book, too – and to be part of it in this way is a real honour.”
The beer is available on draught and in cans at the Theatre Royal’s bars, giving audiences the chance to toast the Tyneside tale in fitting style.
Gerry and Sewell, at the Theatre Royal, tells the story of two twenty-something fans trying to find money, by any means necessary, to get season tickets for home games of their beloved Newcastle United.
It is an adaptation of the 2000 film Purely Belter, which itself was based on Jonathan Tulloch’s novel The Season Ticket.
Advertisement
Jamie Eastlake, producer at Eastlake Productions, said: “Collaboration across regional businesses is always a great thing.
“The show itself is a gateway to theatre for non-traditional theatregoers, so to have a drinks offering alongside the football-themed show made lots of sense.”
Anarchy already has strong links to football through its Shearer’s Beer, named after the legendary goalscorer.
The brewery also makes a donation from every can sold of Shearer’s Beer to The Alan Shearer Foundation.
Advertisement
The new Purely Belter IPA can also be purchased online via the brewery’s website at anarchybrewco.com.
Tickets for Gerry and Sewell are available from the Newcastle Theatre Royal website.
For those who want to enjoy a pint with a side of nostalgia, Purely Belter promises the perfect match.
Tommy Fury announced his newborn son’s name with “Midas” emblazoned on his fight kit as he walked to the ring to take on former World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall
00:47, 14 Jun 2026Updated 00:48, 14 Jun 2026
Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have announced the name of their newborn son in style tonight.
Molly-Mae had suggested her partner would reveal the name on his fight shorts when he walked to the ring to take on strongman Eddie Hall in Manchester tonight. And Fury did exactly that with “Midas” emblazoned on his fight kit as he walked to the ring to England’s football anthem It’s Coming Home.
Fury and Hague, who met on the ITV dating show Love Island, had their first daughter Bambi in January 2023 with Hague announcing she was pregnant with their second child in February. On Wednesday, the pair revealed the news in a joint Instagram post which featured the trio admiring the new member of their family in a black and white photograph.
Advertisement
So what exactly is the meaning behind Midas?
The meaning behind Midas
Midas refers to a legendary king of Phrygia from Greek mythology who was granted the wish that everything he touched turn to gold.
In Greek and Roman legend, King Midas of Phrygia is famous for his foolishness and greed. After performing a favor for the god Dionysus, he was granted any wish and chose the ability to turn everything he touched into gold. He quickly realized the curse of this gift when he accidentally turned his food, drink, and even his daughter to gold.
Advertisement
This myth gave rise to the common phrase “the Midas touch,” which describes someone who is exceptionally successful or profitable in their endeavors.
It was a great night for Tommy, not only from a personal perspective, but from a professional stance as he controversially outpointed giant strongman Eddie Hall with fans left furious with the result.
Here’s what the stars have in store for your day (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Moon aligns with Saturn today, bringing a more serious edge to the day ahead. Now is the time for some important decisions to be made.
Aquarius, Sagittarius, and Scorpio, your thoughts and feelings hold extra weight. Don’t dismiss your emotions, as they could be telling you something imperative.
Focus will come in abundance. The cosmos understands the stakes are high today, so trust this.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Sunday June 14, 2026.
Advertisement
Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.
To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.
Aries
March 21 to April 20
Your ideas sharpen into something purposeful, giving you a sense of direction and helping you to gather your thoughts. As the Moon in your sector of talk and thought aligns with Saturn in your sign, it’s an opportunity to use your words like tools to further your plans. Just give information, opinions, and an assessment before making any binding decisions.
Thoughts about money and values could echo in the quieter spaces within you. You’ll take such reflections seriously, and any insights could lead to steady action that improves how you feel about and handle financial matters. Want to develop self-worth and confidence at a deeper level? Saturn in a private zone might encourage you to link with a coach or mentor.
The Moon in your sign and its tie with Saturn suggests that you’ll be more aware of how you present yourself and where you belong in your social circle. It’s time to thoughtfully choose your groups and your company. You may want to link up with someone or a crowd who is serious about the same things you are. A collaboration could be mutually beneficial.
Your thinking may drift behind the scenes but could still shape important decisions about your future or reputation. For a while today, you may feel less visible, but important groundwork is being laid. Although the current focus makes it tempting to stand out from the crowd, taking time to listen for deeper insights could be very valuable at this time.
The Moon’s tie with prudent Saturn hints that a conversation could lead to a collaboration or group project that promises positive rewards. It might even seem that your social world is acting like a compass and pointing you towards ideas that genuinely matter to you. If you’re attending an event or connecting on social media, expect something interesting to show up.
You’ll have plenty to say, but it’s what others share about you that really counts, and that can swing things your way. The strength of others’ approval and their willingness to put their support behind you can boost morale and help you be considered for a job, contract, or other opportunity. If you need more resources to support your important plans, just ask.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
A partner or friend may challenge you in a way that’s helpful. The Moon’s positive tie to Saturn hints that something you think is a good idea may need some dedicated input to enhance and improve it, and even to make it doable. Don’t take any criticisms to heart; instead, welcome them, because with this insight, an okay plan can become something truly amazing.
You’ll realise that powerful emotions and the daily habits you often cling to for support are more connected than you imagined. An insight today could open the door to understanding why you do what you do. If you’re finding it hard to drop certain attitudes, today’s line-up could assist you in making changes, not because you have to, but because you want to.
Someone may encourage you to take your feelings, desires or creativity more seriously. This is certainly so if you have talents and have been worried about showcasing them. Saturn in your sector of creativity encourages you to overcome any fears related to self-expression, so sharing your concerns with someone could be a game-changer, inspiring you to be bold.
Today’s Moon-Saturn tie-up suggests that a small adjustment to your daily schedule could restore peace at home. It might be a decision to create a regular routine for housecleaning that keeps everything on track without you feeling overwhelmed. You might also want to declutter paper hotspots. Even physically moving furniture around can open up new space.
Take your thoughts seriously today, as even the wildest brainstorm could be a winner. Write the best ones down. A light-hearted conversation might lead to a significant project that really fires you up. Something you hear about or experience first-hand could set you thinking that with work and a sound strategy, you could achieve something similar, if not perhaps better.
Home matters could prompt thoughtful conversations about finances, priorities or long-term plans. For the Moon’s link with Saturn encourages you to put your money to good use, and although you may have a list of things you think you need, a little thought can help you cut those items right back. Saving can seem like a better option than impulse buys.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.
Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.
The scene grew tense as police tried to contain the group that had tried to break free of the barriers.
Craig Meighan Press Association Scotland political reporter
20:17, 13 Jun 2026Updated 20:23, 13 Jun 2026
Rival protesters clashed in Glasgow on Saturday after thousands descended on the city for an anti-racism rally.
Some in the small counter-protest group performed what appeared to be Nazi salutes as the two groups gathered at Buchanan Street in the city centre.
Advertisement
Stand Up To Racism organised the “reclaim our streets – stand up to the far right” demonstration following disorder earlier in the week in the wake of the stabbing attack in Belfast.
Sudanese national Hadi Alodid, 30, appeared at Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, charged with attempted murder and was remanded in custody. Stephen Ogilvie lost an eye and suffered deep cuts to his head, face and back following the attack in Belfast on Monday, June 8.
He claimed asylum after arriving in Northern Ireland in 2023 and was granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028.
Police Scotland said disorder saw people in the city targeted due to the colour of their skin, while a Glasgow mosque was forced to lock worshippers inside for their safety.
Advertisement
Saturday’s rally saw thousands of anti-racism protesters gather alongside a significantly smaller group of counter-protesters who were fenced off from the main group by police.
Most of the counter-protesters, who were almost exclusively men, wore balaclavas or other face coverings.
The scene grew tense as police tried to contain the group that had tried to break free of the barriers.
The group eventually spilled out onto Bath Street under Buchanan Galleries.
Advertisement
Projectiles, including drink cans, were thrown towards the Stand Up To Racism group, while an egg appeared to be thrown towards the counter protesters.
Some of the counter protesters waved Union flags, and others waved Israel flags while the anti-racism side waved Palestinian, Ukraine and Scotland flags.
Some of the men who counter-protested shouted anti-Islam chants while anti-racism protesters shouted “Nazi scum off our streets”.
Several politicians attended the anti-racism rally, including Labour MSPs Paul Sweeney and Pauline McNeill, along with Green MSPs Iris Duane and Holly Bruce.
Advertisement
Former SNP equalities minister Kaukab Stewart and prominent human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar also attended.
Police Scotland said it had a “significant operation” in place to “ensure the safety of the public and to minimise disruption” and that the protest passed “without major incident”.
A 53-year-old man was arrested for threatening a police officer, while another officer was struck by an egg.
Advertisement
People were issued with city centre dispersal orders for their conduct following the protest, police said, but did not say how many.
A number of hate crimes which were reported will now be investigated.
Chief Superintendent Stevie Dolan said: “We did warn that officers would respond decisively and robustly to keep communities safe and I want to thank the public for their patience while the demonstration took place.”
Kynren – The Storied Lands, billed as the UK’s first live action show park, will open within the wider Kynren site in Bishop Auckland on Saturday, July 18.
The bespoke outfits for its four-legged performers are being produced by master saddler Shelley Musker Turner, founder of Battle Horse Ltd, whose leatherwork has featured in major international productions.
Costumes are being created for the attraction’s horses and riders (Image: Supplied)
The specialist company, which focuses on historic and fantasy saddlery and leatherwork for film and television, has previously worked on more than 40 major productions including Gladiator II, Napoleon, Rings of Power, Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker, and The Witcher.
Now, Shelley’s craftsmanship is helping bring the worlds of Kynren – The Storied Lands to life, with costumes being created for several of the attraction’s horses and riders, including elaborate pieces for Bishop Bek’s horse, mounted guards, and Bishop Flambard’s horse.
Advertisement
After spending time working with horses and camels in Spain and Austria during her teenage years, Shelley returned to the UK to formally train as a saddle maker before specialising in saddlery and leatherwork for the film and TV industry.
One of the Sketches for The Trusty Steed, an Equestrian Stunt show launching as part of Kynren – The Storied Lands (Image: Supplied)
Alongside her work in film production, she is also an internationally performing Celtic harpist who has toured across Europe and the United States with acclaimed Welsh folk band Calan, performing alongside major orchestras and artists including Sir Bryn Terfel.
Shelley said: “For me, both music and leatherwork are about storytelling and atmosphere.
“Whether you are creating a piece of costume for a horse or performing traditional folk music, you are helping create emotion, character, and immersion for an audience.
Advertisement
“Kynren – The Storied Lands is operating on a scale rarely seen in the UK, and there is an extraordinary level of detail going into every aspect of the production.”
Laurie Robinson, Director of Cavalry and Estates at Kynren, said the costumes form an important part of the visual storytelling throughout the new attraction.
“The horses play a major role within several of the experiences, and Shelley’s work brings an authenticity and craftsmanship that audiences immediately recognise,” she said.
“Horses are incredibly intuitive animals, and many of them know the moment the costumes appear that it is nearly showtime.”
Advertisement
Among the horses being fitted is Ufano, a 17-year-old Andalusian Spanish horse who will feature within the new productions.
Kynren – The Storied Lands opens on July 18, combining large-scale live shows, immersive environments, animals, mythology, history, and spectacle across what organisers describe as the UK’s first live action show park.
Santander, Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland are closing branches across the UK
20:35, 13 Jun 2026Updated 20:39, 13 Jun 2026
Almost 250 banks are due to close in 2026 as the major banks continue their withdrawal from high streets and town centres.
By the start of June, 138 banks had closed across the UK in 2026. June is set to be the most destructive month so far, with 82 branches due to close this month alone, and more to follow throughout the year.
In total, closure dates have been fixed for 245 branches of the major banks by the end of this year.
Advertisement
Lloyds customers have been hardest hit, with 82 Lloyds branches already shut or scheduled to close this year, along with 43 branches of Halifax and 28 branches of Bank of Scotland.
That comes after Lloyds Banking Group announced it would close 166 branches in 2026 and 2027, including branches of Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Lloyds Bank.
The decision was blamed on customers shifting away from in-person banking to using mobile services.
Meanwhile, Santander is closing 54 branches this year, and NatWest is closing 35 banks.
Advertisement
The closures affect every part of the UK, with 31 branches due to shut in Scotland, 16 in Wales, and four in Northern Ireland, with the rest spread across England.
Check out if your local branch is on the list by searching our interactive map below:
Since February 2022, when all major banking groups committed to a voluntary agreement to assess the impact of each closure, a total of 2,167 branches have either shut down or announced plans to close.
That’s an average of nearly 10 closures each week.
Advertisement
The LINK initiative was established to scrutinise each closure and ensure that vulnerable customers and small businesses were not left behind in the transition to cashless payments and virtual banking.
When closures leave communities without any local bank, banking hubs or free ATMs are set up to fill the gap. So far, LINK has recommended the opening of 277 bank hubs.
In May, the Government announced an independent review into access to banking, to be led by Richard Lloyd, the ex-Director General of Which? and the former interim Chair of the Financial Conduct Authority.
As part of the review, Mr Lloyd has launched a consultation on the impact of branch closures and what they mean for the future.
Advertisement
Currently, closure assessments focus on cash access and the potential gap left by a branch closure. But this assessment could be extended to include access to banking, which could mean recommending new banking hubs at branches that have already been assessed for closure, as well as at future sites.
Experts believe the previous commitment of 350 hubs could increase to 550 if these changes are implemented.
Nick Quin, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, LINK: “More people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally. Many people rely entirely on their smartphones when they leave the home, and don’t carry cash or even a wallet. That means cash use is falling too, but it remains critical, and over £76bn was withdrawn from LINK cash machines last year.
“Whenever a bank branch does close, LINK will assess the impact to see if additional cash services are required. We’re committed to protecting the cash infrastructure for the millions of people who still rely on it.”
Advertisement
Gareth Oakley, CEO, Cash Access UK: “The way people are banking is changing as more people choose to bank and pay for things digitally. But for those people who still rely on cash and face-to-face banking services, the good news is that more banking hubs are opening every week. We’ve opened more than 200 now, including 100 in 2025 alone.
“What’s particularly brilliant about hubs is that we can serve the customers of all the major high street banks in one location. They’re getting busier too with on average around 150 customer transactions every day. There’s a real buzz about them. Hubs alongside deposit services and other new cash solutions will continue to help businesses and consumers to readily access and deposit cash when they need to.”
Environmental health officers have been busy this fortnight visiting businesses across the city to see if they are meeting hygiene requirements.
Based on guidelines set by the Food Standards Agency, inspectors look to see how clean the facilities are; what food safety management procedures are in place and how hygienic food handling is.
Ratings are then dished out from five to zero — with the higher score the better the result.
Advertisement
Five — Very Good
Cosy Club York in 19-22 Fossgate, rated 5 on May 28, 2026.
The Luxury Ice Cream Company in 20 Back Swinegate, rated 5 on May 28, 2026.
Waqif Arabian Kitchen at Unit 4 Spark York, Piccadilly, rated 5 on May 28, 2026.
Advertisement
Bird & Blend in 73 Low Petergate, rated 5 on May 29, 2026.
Holiday Inn in 53 Piccadilly, rated 5 on June 1, 2026.
Yahala Mataam at The Citadel, Gillygate, rated 5 on June 1, 2026.
Applefields School at Applefields School, Bad Bargain Lane, rated 5 on June 3, 2026.
Advertisement
Haxby Road Primary Academy at Haxby Road County Primary School, Haxby Road, rated 5 on June 3, 2026.
IFG t/a Hutchison Catering at Huntington Primary School at Huntington Cp School, North Moor Road, rated 5 on June 3, 2026.
Askham Grange Prison at Hm Prison Askham Grange, Main Street, rated 5 on June 4, 2026.
The Flames in 74 The Mount, rated 5 on June 4, 2026.
Advertisement
Hutchison Catering at St George’s RC Primary School at St Georges R C Primary School, Winterscale Street, rated 5 on June 5, 2026.
IFG/ Hutchison Catering at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs RC Primary School in Hamilton Drive, rated 5 on June 5, 2026.
NYES Catering at Carr Infant School at Carr Infant School, Ostman Road, rated 5 on June 5, 2026.
Red Tower – Community Cafe & Food Bank at Red Tower, Foss Islands Road, rated 5 on June 8, 2026.
Advertisement
Businesses may have been re-inspected since, and this will be reflected in our next round-up.
The White House is gearing up to host a UFC event as part of celebrations of 250 years of American independence. The fighters on the card are relying on body conditioning techniques that have been around for centuries to try to emerge victorious. Muay thai, karate and jiujitsu all use ancient practices that condition the body for their field.
The human body over time, and under the right stresses and strains, can become more resilient to physical and physiological challenges. One of the key scientific principles here is Wolff’s law – the idea that bone remodels itself in response to the loads placed on it. Studies have shown that in many sports the dominant limb develops denser bone than the non-dominant side. In martial arts, this effect is seen in both arms and legs.
In muay thai, fighters condition their shins by kicking banana trees – whose soft outer layers and substantial bulk make them ideal for the purpose. The repeated impact gradually adapts the tibia to the forces generated by kicking.
The tibia is the second-longest bone in the body. Like most bones in the body, it has a dense outer shell surrounding a cavity, crossed by tiny structural rods – a design that combines strength with minimal weight.
Advertisement
The thickness of the tibia is greatest at the points between 40-70% of its length from top to bottom, the outer (cortical) layer of bone is, on average, between 4-6mm thick in males and 3-5mm thick in females. No studies have directly compared tibia thickness in combat athletes and non-athletes. But in 2004, UFC fighter Shaun Strickland posted an X-ray image of his legs on Instagram showing noticeably thicker bone cortices – visible evidence of what years of shin conditioning can do.
Kick forces are high enough that opponents are warned against single-arm blocks – the impact can fracture the ulna, the longer bone in the forearm, which accounted for a quarter of all mixed martial arts (MMA) injuries in one study.
Even ancient traditions such as iron arm and wing chun, which exploit Wolff’s law to condition the forearms, may struggle to prevent these high-impact traumatic breaks.
Many athletes in combat sports also train their hands and arms. A popular way to do this is rice gripping: submerging hands in buckets of rice and performing various exercises against the resistance.
Advertisement
Rice gripping.
This works multiple muscle groups simultaneously, in ways that traditional gym exercises often deal with in isolation. As the forearms and finger muscles grow stronger, they pull hard on the bone, triggering Wolff’s law and causing bone to thicken.
Studies show that combat sport athletes have denser bones and more lean muscle in their limbs than both non-contact sports athletes and inactive people – evidence that this kind of training pays off both for delivering strikes and absorbing them.
Many people assume that combat sports require conditioning of the core muscles, such as the abdominal muscles to protect the organs from trauma. But this is only partly true. The other function is to increase the force generation, impact and accuracy of striking, as many striking blows initiated by the upper body start from the legs. Studies have shown that martial artists in a variety of combats improve in force, impact and accuracy from core strength training.
Advertisement
Not risk free
All this training has its risks. Even with gloves, fighters regularly damage the soft tissue and bones in the hands, these can be from a single heavy blow or repetitive strain or injury. For centuries, practitioners have used dit da jow liniment (bruise wine) in repairing the hands after combat.
Shin conditioning against a banana tree.
One common injury is boxer’s knuckle, where the joint and tendons of the middle finger are damaged, causing inability to straighten the finger or snapping of the tendon across the bone. This knuckle is affected because it protrudes out the furthest in a clenched fist and is often the impact point.
It shouldn’t be confused with a boxer’s fracture, which sees the metacarpal of the little finger in the palm of the hand break due to impact trauma. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link, and in the hand it is always the bones of the little finger, because they don’t contribute the same weight in activities as their larger neighbours.
Advertisement
All this impact also affects the skin, which responds by thickening to protect underlying structures to present as knuckle pads. The skin in conditioned areas also adapts through neural desensitisation, where repeated exposure to painful stimuli causes the receptors in that area to recalibrate what they deem as a painful level of stimulus.
For all the conditioning, whether using modern or ancient methods, the human body has its limits. There will always be weak spots. Women suffer more upper limb injuries, while men suffer more lower limb injuries. Head and neck injuries and their long-term effects are becoming a growing concern. If conditioning is something that you are interested in pursuing, slow and steady is the safest way to go, giving the body time to respond to what you are asking of it.
Beach Road Fisheries in Skinningrove currently holds a 4.5-star rating from dozens of online reviews, with many visitors describing it as one of the best places for fish and chips on the Yorkshire coast.
Located just a short walk from Skinningrove’s beach, the family-run takeaway has become a popular stop for people exploring the coastline, tackling the Cleveland Way or visiting nearby attractions including the Land of Iron museum.
Despite its relatively hidden location, reviewers regularly praise both the food and the friendly service.
One visitor described it as an “absolutely brilliant fish and chip shop”, adding: “The food is fantastic at really reasonable prices. Everything is cooked in beef dripping, which makes it crispy and full of flavour without being greasy at all.”
Advertisement
The use of traditional beef dripping is frequently mentioned in reviews and is one of the reasons customers say the shop stands out from competitors.
Beach Road Fisheries in Skinningrove (Image: TRIPADVISOR)
Another reviewer called it the “best fish and chips I’ve had by a country mile”, praising the “piping hot”, freshly cooked fish and crispy batter.
Others have highlighted the warm welcome they received from staff.
One customer who arrived shortly before closing said they were still offered freshly cooked food, describing the service as “lovely” and adding that the chips were among the best they had ever eaten.
Advertisement
Another visitor who discovered the shop after a beach walk said their first impression was how clean the premises were before going on to praise both the quality of the food and customer service.
The menu extends beyond traditional fish and chips.
Homemade corned beef pie has developed something of a following among regular customers, with one reviewer describing it as “absolutely amazing” and saying it was clear it had been made fresh.
Other popular choices include sausage rolls, curry sauce, mushy peas and haddock, with generous portions frequently highlighted by visitors.
Advertisement
One customer described receiving “the largest portion of chips I’ve seen”, while another praised the value for money, saying the portions were both “substantial” and “reasonably priced”.
The takeaway sits just moments from Skinningrove beach, a stretch of coastline often described as one of the Yorkshire coast’s “hidden gems”.
Many visitors combine a trip to the beach with lunch from the chippy, while walkers passing through the village on coastal routes often stop for a meal before continuing their journey.
Reviewers frequently describe the location as part of the appeal.
Advertisement
One customer who discovered the shop while walking from the nearby mining museum said they had stumbled upon it unexpectedly and were delighted by both the food and service.
Another visitor called it an “excellent seaside chippy”, praising the freshly cooked fish, traditional Yorkshire chips and friendly staff.
The UK’s new defence secretary has said he is “absolutely determined” to provide the armed forces with the funding needed.
Dan Jarvis was appointed to the cabinet role earlier this week, following John Healey’s resignation as he accused the prime minister of delegating insufficient funds for the Defence Investment Plan (DIP).
In his resignation letter to the prime minister on Thursday, the former defence secretary said the funding “falls well short of what is required”, with extra support not coming until after 2030 even though the “imperative to speed up readiness to fight is in the first two years”.
His departure from cabinet was followed swiftly by Al Carns, the armed forces minister and Mr Healey’s parliamentary private secretary, Pamela Nash MP, marking a serious loss for Sir Keir.
Advertisement
While tensions continue to rise over the plan, Mr Jarvis told The Telegraph it is his job to “keep marching forward” as he endeavours to get the military “precisely what they need”.
The former soldier said: “Those amazing people who serve in our armed forces look to us to provide that leadership and to work across government to make sure that they’ve got the resources in place that they need.”
Dan Jarvis was appointed to the cabinet role earlier this week (AFP/Getty)
Mr Jarvis acknowledged that he is facing a “challenge” at a time of “constrained fiscal resources” but was resolute in his determination to deliver.
It comes as Kemi Badenoch urged potential Labour leadership rivals to cut welfare costs in order to increase defence spending.
In her letter, which was also sent to Andy Burnham, Wes Streeting, Al Carns, Catherine West, Darren Jones and Ed Miliband, the Tory leader said: “We cannot have our military inadequately funded at a time of growing threats. The funding must also not be backloaded when the pressures are urgent.
Advertisement
John Healey resigned as defence secretary last week (PA)
“I have made several offers to work with you in the national interest to reduce benefit spending so we can invest more in our defence. Sir Tony Blair, the longest-serving Labour prime minister, has urged you to accept them.
“In the light of the warnings from John Healey and Al Carns, I repeat my offer again today, and ask you to meet with me to discuss defence funding.”
Mr Burnham also said he would cut welfare spending to increase the country’s defence budget in his bid to take on Sir Keir for No 10.
While the Greater Manchester mayor still has to face a tough by-election in Makerfield next week, he has already laid out his vision for how he would increase defence funds through a 10-year approach.
His goal would be take people out of welfare and into work, moving towards a “more preventative state that makes the right investments to support people into work,” he told The Times.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login