The WASPI campaign is seeking a judicial review of the DWP’s refusal to pay state pension age compensation, as the group raises funds and awaits a High Court decision on whether their legal challenge will proceed

The WASPI campaign (Women Against State Pension Inequality) continues to challenge the Government’s position and press for compensation payments. The organisation believes the current political uncertainty in Westminster offers new opportunities to garner support.

In January 2025, Labour announced there would be no compensation for women born in the 1950s represented by WASPI and similar groups. These women were affected by the state pension age increasing from 60 to 65 and later to 66. Campaigners maintain they weren’t properly informed of the changes, with many discovering them too late, leaving their retirement plans in ruins. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously backed their case, finding the DWP guilty of maladministration.

The Parliamentary watchdog proposed compensation sums ranging from £1,000 to £2,950 and urged Parliament to tackle the issue. However, Labour has rejected compensation, contending that most affected women were aware of the changes and that earlier notification would have made little difference.

WASPI has subsequently filed an application for a judicial review of this decision. The campaign group anticipates hearing from the courts within the next two to three months about whether their claim will advance to the High Court.

Numerous MPs have individually expressed their support for compensation, as have particular political parties. This includes the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. Both parties increased their councillor numbers in the recent local elections, while Labour shed more than 1,400 seats, mirroring the country’s mounting dissatisfaction with the Labour Government. Angela Madden, chair of the WASPI campaign, suggested that the current turmoil in Westminster might offer a new chance for them to make progress, reports Lancs Live.

‘Quite interesting’ development

Ms Madden said: “Keir Starmer’s Government becomes less popular every day. I think Andy Burnham joining the race in the Makerfield by election is quite interesting.

“Andy does say he is a supporter of ours, but then so did many Labour people before they got into power.” Andy Burnham had previously told the BBC that he considered the decision not to award WASPI compensation to be “the wrong decision”, saying that all political parties ought to have accepted the Ombudsman’s report and acted on its findings.

Ms Madden noted that the campaign has substantial backing from Labour backbenchers. WASPI is currently fundraising to meet its legal expenses for the judicial review, aiming for £100,000, having already secured over £60,000.

The campaign leader stated she remains “hopeful” that they will continue to gain momentum. Reform UK emerged as the clear victors in the local elections, securing hundreds of seats and assuming control of numerous councils.

‘A complete unknown’ Ms Madden acknowledged that the implications for their campaign remain unclear. She said: “It’s a complete unknown. They haven’t come out in support of WASPI, so we still don’t know. It’s a very difficult time, but it seems there will always be opportunities in any change for us, there always have been.”

While the high court has the authority to overturn the DWP’s ruling, it is not in a position to order any compensation payments. In the near future, WASPI will be attending a number of union conferences over the coming weeks in an effort to raise awareness and secure additional support.

The organisation will be represented at the GMB conference in Blackpool and the Unison conference in Brighton, with both events due to take place in June.

Manchester United’s summer transfer prospects are on the up as Michael Carrick goes about improving his options

Manchester United have received word off AC Milan forward Rafael Leao that could influence their summer transfer plans. Michael Carrick is currently processing a whirlwind first six months at Old Trafford but has no time to rest on his laurels.

The same can be said for a number of squad stars, many of whom are preparing for the World Cup 2026 kick-off in a fortnight. But with only seven weeks until United’s first pre-season friendly, even those with a summer break don’t have too long before the action resumes.

That leaves time for a host of new arrivals to plant roots at Old Trafford before Carrick’s men reunite in July. And Mirror Football has compiled some of this weekend’s top stories as a couple of new names emerge in the rumour mill.

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Leao reveals United preference

The Portuguese contingent at Old Trafford could be set to grow by one if United decide to pursue a move for Leao this summer. And they’ve been encouraged to do after the forward shared his affinity for the club.

The 26-year-old has been linked with United in years gone by without such speculation bearing any fruit. However, the Red Devils may give the idea more thought as Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot could welcome another compatriot to the club.

“Yeah, of course,” he said during an appearance on the Cernucci podcast when asked if United are his favourite Premier League club. “I like United because my idol is Cristiano Ronaldo. So back then, I used to watch them. I like Arsenal also.”

Better yet, it’s suggested the player could be available on a cut-price fee after Milan missed out on Champions League qualification. The Rossoneri lost at home to Cagliari on the final day of the season and finished fifth in Serie A, which was only enough to qualify for the Europa League.

As a result, it’s reported Leao’s asking price could be slashed to as little as £43million, which is half the kind of valuations linked to his signature in the past. United’s wings aren’t believed to be a major priority heading into the transfer window, though Leao has come to be deployed more as a central striker in recent years.

The arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo strengthened United’s wide areas significantly last summer. That being said, the departures of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho mean the left flank in particular could perhaps do with some reinforcement.

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Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Osimhen dubbed ‘dream signing’

United legend Patrice Evra has named Victor Osimhen as the one name he would bring to Old Trafford above all others this summer. Benjamin Sesko demonstrated significant progress over the course of his debut campaign at United but Evra wants to see more striker options at his old club.

Galatasaray spent a Turkish-record fee of around £65m to sign the Nigeria frontman last summer following a successful loan from Napoli. In addition to his supposed £250,000-a-week wages, another obstacle relates to reports that Gala have put a £130m asking price on their star.

Nonetheless, Evra believes his former employers should break the bank to sign one of the hottest finishers in Europe. Doing so would be a move straight from the Sir Alex Ferguson handbook as Carrick looks to fire his team to the next level.

“Osimhen. I have all due respect for Galatasaray, the love he gets there and what the player is like,” Evra told Goal. “Man United need a proper striker, and I have so much respect for the strikers at Man United, sometimes [Bryan] Mbuemo. But back in the day, we had four amazing strikers, and if you want to play every competition, you need more strikers.

“Of course, you need some defenders, like an extra left-back, because you could have an injury and a right-back. Of course, Casemiro is leaving, so you need to replace those players. To name one player, I say Osimhen because I know these guys can make the difference.”

Admittedly, there were portions of last term when United looked light up top, such as when Sesko was injured in late 2025. The likes of Cunha and Mbeumo each had trial runs leading the attack during that period but neither looked a natural fit in the role.

Osimhen helped Galatasaray retain the Super Lig crown this season despite a less prolific campaign by his standards. He finished the campaign with 22 goals and eight assists in 33 games all competitions, having seen his progress impeded by several injury setbacks.

Bradshaw Hall Fisheries Ltd said the incident happened over the weekend and has been reported to police.

In a post on its Facebook page, the business claimed people entered the premises, caused damage and attempted to steal machinery.

The fishery alleged that baby chicks hatched from its chickens were taken and killed during the incident.

Owners also reported that a DeWalt circular saw was stolen and said attempts were made to take other machinery, although these were unsuccessful.

Bradshaw Hall Fisheries said police officers attended the site on Sunday to review CCTV footage and that further action was expected.

The business posted: “Baby chicks that have been hatched out from our chickens have been taken and killed, a DeWalt circular saw was taken and they attempted to take other machinery but failed.

“The police have been to the fishery today to review the footage and further action is due to be taken.”

The appeal posted online from Bradshaw Fishery (Image: Bradshaw Fishery)

The fishery appealed for anyone with information about those involved to get in touch directly.

When contacted, Bradshaw Hall Fisheries declined to comment further beyond the statement issued on social media.

The mystery of the Emmerdale arsonist has been baffling locals.

It’s been such a weird thing to do – at first, everyone thought some unidentified Moira hater was starting each blaze. When it became clear she was never the target, the whole motive was lost. Why burn the barns?

There’s been speculation doing the rounds as to who would do such a thing. Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) fell into the suspect frame through strange behaviour and being caught with a petrol can.

It has transpired that rather than setting light to the barns he was sheltering in them – he was homeless. The petrol he had was to burn his car for insurance.

Then there was a little moment where it appeared Kyle Winchester (Huey Quinn) looked guilty and shifty all at once.

This arsonist is no criminal mastermind – they might be running rings around everyone despite running rings around everyone, but Graham Foster (Andrew Scarborough) is about to catch them out.

That guilty look told the story – it is in fact, Kyle.

Salty about losing his home and his family’s stability, Kyle is taking his own revenge, but it’s turning him into a pyromaniac.

Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) is all over the place and his hit and miss parenting is leading to the pyrotechnics. When he turns down spending time with his son, Kyle is disappointed and unsure of how to cope with these increasing feelings of abandonment.

Cain is angry to find Kyle skipping school and moans to Kammy that Kyle is too fixated on sorting the Golf – their shared car restoration project. Kyle feels awful about this, he thought he and his dad had a lovely thing going.

So, the Golf becomes the collateral damage to his teenage angst as he turns to his new obsession of burning things.

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Graham finds Kyle watching the car ablaze and dives in to save him. Then he realises Kyle was the one who did it.

He’s furious with the lad but quickly softens when Kyle explains why. It’s not long before the smoke signal is spotted and others come running, forcing Kyle to hide. If Graham protects him, this could turn into a bigger storyline of Kyle’s pyromania.

Will Cain work out what his son is up to, and that he’s partly to blame?

MORE: Emmerdale star confirms truth about Graham and Coronation Street’s Jodie – huge repercussions will follow

MORE: Dawn’s terror in Emmerdale as Graham and Joe plot to stop her ‘for good’

MORE: Emmerdale spoiler video confirms devastating ‘death’ twist as Joe and Graham are staggered

Donald Trump’s physician says the president is in “excellent health” and is “fully fit” to serve as commander in chief after a medical exam Tuesday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

A report from Dr. Sean Barbabella, released late Friday, says Trump underwent a CT scan and other heart imaging along with cancer screenings and other preventative assessments carried out by 22 specialists.

Trump, 79, said after the visit Tuesday that everything checked out “PERFECTLY.”

The president weighed in at 238 pounds (108 kilograms), up 14 pounds (6 kg) from a medical exam in April 2025. His doctors gave him guidance on his diet, physical activity and weight loss, but concluded his “cognitive and physical performance are excellent.”

PARIS (AP) — There will be a new men’s champion at the French Open after Novak Djokovic followed Jannik Sinner out of Roland Garros in a five-set stunner on Friday.

Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca beat 24-time major winner Djokovic 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 in the third round to follow Thursday’s huge upset, when No. 1 Sinner — last year’s runner-up lost to 56th-ranked Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

“Ten minutes after the match I could realize a little bit what I did, what I achieved,” the 19-year-old Fonseca said. “How difficult it was and how amazing it was for me.”

Djokovic’s latest quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title was ended and it was just the second time he lost from two sets up, the other also coming in Paris in 2010.

Along with Daniil Medvedev, Marin Cilic and Stan Wawrinka, all the men’s major winners are out, thus guaranteeing that a new pair of hands will raise the Coupe des Mousquetaires trophy aloft on June 7 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

“Of course, Jannik and Djokovic out, there’s more chances,” said Fonseca, who next faces two-time runner-up Casper Ruud, who beat Tommy Paul 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 7-5.

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev, the 2024 runner-up, also advanced to the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 win late Friday over Frenchman Quentin Halys.

The 39-year-old Djokovic faded as the court slowed in the evening cool.

“Tough one for me to lose,” Djokovic said. “I was barely standing on my legs toward the end of the match.”

In the final game, Djokovic had a break point for 6-6 but Fonseca served out with three consecutive aces and became the first teenager to beat Djokovic at a Grand Slam tournament.

“I just enjoyed being on court and what a pleasure it was. It’s my first stepping on court against him,” Fonseca said. “We still think he’s 20. At the end of the match I think he was more fit than me, that’s crazy.”

Fonseca wished his mother in the crowd happy birthday and thanked all the Brazilians who turned up to watch.

Djokovic doubts

This wasn’t as big an upset as Sinner’s loss because Djokovic came to Paris with doubts.

After he lost the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, a shoulder injury limited his clay-court buildup to one competitive match and Djokovic labored for at least three hours in each of his previous two rounds before facing the full fury of Fonseca’s booming forehand.

“Taking everything in consideration and all the circumstances, I think the level was really good,” said Djokovic, whose last major title was the 2024 U.S. Open.

The heat that stressed Sinner also got to Djokovic, who applied ice packs on both sides of his face during changeovers. Djokovic snapped at a television camera operator for getting too close to his face at one point.

By the fifth set he couldn’t hide his fatigue: He hunched over the advertising boards, his forearms dangling; slumped back in his chair with a towel on his head; grabbed his head with his hands.

He was gracious in defeat.

“I told him (after the match) that he deserved to win and he should be proud of himself,” Djokovic said. “We’ve all seen today why there is hype around him.”

Djokovic said he was unsure if he would play at the French Open next year, although he said the same after his semifinal defeat to Sinner last year.

Kostyuk keeps going

Still unbeaten on clay this season, Marta Kostyuk reached the fourth round for the second time and set up a big match against four-time champion Iga Swiatek in the women’s draw.

The 15th-ranked Ukrainian extended her winning streak on clay to 15 matches with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Viktorija Golubic on yet another hot day in Paris.

She lost to Swiatek in the fourth round in 2021. A rematch is coming up next after Swiatek defeated fellow Polish player Magda Linette 6-4, 6-4.

Swiatek has won in straight sets all three times against Kostyuk and boasts a 43-3 record at Roland Garros.

Seventh-seeded Elina Svitolina was another Ukrainian woman to advance. She beat Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-3.

A dominant win

Also advancing was 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea, who routed Solana Sierra and became the oldest player in the Open Era to claim a 6-0, 6-0 win in a Grand Slam tournament. She next faces China’s Wang Xiyu, who has still not dropped a set.

Eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva progressed with a 6-4, 6-2 win against Czech opponent Marie Bouzkova and leads the women’s tour with 32 victories this season.

___

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

“It’s perfect, now I sleep like a baby.”

For those troubled by overheating during the warmer months, spring and summer can bring numerous restless nights tossing and turning. Investing in a new cooling duvet could help people settle into sleep more comfortably.

Simba is a well-regarded bedding brand at the cutting edge of innovative cooling sleep technology. The company offers a carefully curated range of specialist duvets, including its Hybrid Duvet, priced between £139 and £259 depending on whether shoppers choose single, double, king or super king sizes.

The Hybrid Duvet carries a 10.5 tog rating and is described as lightweight yet luxurious. It boasts a breathable cotton cover alongside Stratos technology, which can render the fabric up to 3°C cooler than conventional materials, producing a refreshingly cool surface.

READ MORE: Dusk’s ‘expensive-looking’ £23 wall light transforms any dingy space into an ‘atmospheric’ delight

READ MORE: ‘Luxury’ £30 summer bedding means ‘no more struggling to get a bulky duvet into its cover’

This design seeks to prevent heat accumulation while drawing moisture away – ensuring sleepers remain drier, more comfortable, and sustain an optimal temperature throughout the night. Simba’s Hybrid Duvet features square stitching to stop the filling from clumping, and is machine-washable (provided the appliance is sufficiently large).

The company is also offering complimentary bundles when shoppers purchase selected mattresses. For instance, those who buy the Hybrid Pro Mattress (priced from £899 to £1,499) will receive two Hybrid Pillows (valued at £218), a Hybrid Duvet (valued at £259) and a Quilted Performance Mattress Protector (valued at £169).

Those with a more substantial budget for bedding may wish to consider the Simba Hybrid 3-in-1 Duvet, priced between £249 and £449 depending on whether customers require single, double, king or super king sizes. The duvet comprises multiple layers, including 7 tog and 3.5 tog options; when combined, they form a 10.5 tog duvet that’s ideal for chillier months, reports Bristol Live.

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The duvet is designed to allow plenty of airflow through the duvet for drier warmth.

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Meanwhile, Dunelm is currently offering 20% off the Fogarty Temperature Balance 10.5 Tog Duvet, now £33.60 to £44.80, reduced from £42 to £56. It’s available in single, double, king and super king sizes.

Over at Amazon, shoppers can find an offer on the Slumberdown Cool Summer Nights 4.5 Tog Duvet, starting from £15.99. The duvet incorporates soft, moisture-wicking fibres that enhance airflow and assist with body temperature regulation.

The Simba Hybrid Duvet has established itself as a bestseller, achieving a 5-star customer satisfaction rating from over 17,000 reviews. One purchaser enthused: “So happy for my duvet, sleeping like a baby. I don’t feel cold or hot, it’s very amazing. Everybody needs to have it and feel amazing like me.”

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Another satisfied customer wrote: “The best choice I could have made. I had a lot of duvets, but this one I love: not too cold, not too hot, with a feeling that it wraps you very nicely. It’s perfect, now I sleep like a baby. I would definitely buy it again. No doubt worth the price.”

Not all customers were won over, however, with one buyer commenting on the rustling sound of the material: “The duvet is comfortable, it feels a good weight which I like.

“The only issue I have with it is that it is quite noisy, sounding like it is plastic and rustles whenever I move it, which can wake me up.”

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Another purchaser had a far more positive experience, writing: “Best decision I’ve made this year! Felt instant differences, and by day three, I’ve slept like a baby – no more aches and pains in the morning. I don’t feel my partner moving around and getting out of bed early. Pure perfection.”

A fifth reviewer noted: “Very comfy, warm temperature, and great spread of thickness. Great investment; would recommend to anyone looking for high-quality comfort. It might get a bit warm in the hotter months, which is my only other point.”

Meanwhile, one final customer concluded: “The weight of the duvet is so nice! It’s comforting and cosy but never too warm.”

June starts busy and lively in Gemini season, so expect lots of travel and horizon broadening, new ideas and innovation — with this inventive and exploratory energy peaking around the New Moon in Gemini on June 15.

Then the wheel of the year turns again on June 21, with the Summer Solstice and the start of Cancer season, which slows everything down a little. Languid, relaxing, homely and indulgent vibes arise, perfect for summer holidays and breaks.

Venus’s move into sexy, charismatic Leo onJune 13 also heightens the summer romance possibility, and makes sure we all get the attention we desire!

June ends with a Mercury Retrograde (just ignore it!) and a Full Moon in Capricorn, which is a call to action to audit and reflect on your career progress and purpose.

The best time to look at this life area is when you’re relaxed, vs stressed and with your back against the wall. Perhaps there are changes or things you’d like to push on towards in the latter half of 2026 around your work realm? Now’s the time to plan if so

Let the tarot guide you towards where your energy should be directed this month.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

Tarot cards for Aries for June: Ace of Coins, The Sun, Queen of Coins

Meaning: Feels like you’re going to have your own blazing mini summer holiday this June; the whole month will feel like a wonderful dream and really recharge your batteries. The Sun is the tarot’s most positive card and blesses this month with romance, success, travel (ideally to warm climes), joy and prosperity. Good fortune will follow you, so aim high and be confident.

The Ace and Queen of Coins are bringing you up to that Full Moon in Capricorn at month end with a brilliant new career idea, goal or plan. You’re thinking about the long-term, about the factors you control and can change, and the ideal or vision you’re working towards. Something is going to begin very soon that will take at least a year to fulfil (maybe a shift in direction, a new network, a training course) but will be worthwhile and bring you a great deal of riches and rewards. You are on the up!

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Tarot cards for Taurus for June: The Emperor, The Magician, Six of Cups

Meaning: A blast from the past enables you to rewrite history, get on top of an old story and tell it your way, and create a new idea, ambition, relationship or project from it that’s set to be very successful! The Six of Cups means something from the past is rearing its head, and in a good way. Maybe a reunion, a piece of news, a different slant on an old wound, a rekindling of a bond that has faded, a memory of a hobby or talent you brushed aside long ago. Something is returning.

The Emperor shows that the difference with it now is that you’re older, wiser and in control, you’re the one who makes the decisions and says yes or no, and this is a game changer. I feel like it will lead to a new ‘something’ in your life, with the powerful inventive Magician. Maybe a new role, relationship, project, creative idea or invention, even a fresh perspective on something that feels much more comfortable. This is the month of second chances.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Tarot cards for Gemini for June: Ace of Cups, Ten of Cups, The High Priestess

Meaning: I feel like forgiveness is a theme this June. Maybe something happens around your birthday that warms your heart, makes you remember something or someone, and you feel willing to put aside whatever grudge you held. The High Priestess is a deep intuitive feeling that emerges from your heart and changes your mind. Don’t suppress this. Don’t hold onto hate or resentment.

The Ace and Ten of Cups bless your relationship realm with real romance, passion and sizzle. Venus in Leo is a great transit for you, amplifying your charms, your flirty nature, and your ability to score with the person (or people) you’re trying to influence, persuade, befriend, or get closer to. Use your fabulous humour and wit to dazzle folk, and you’ll attract quite a crowd for your birthday season. Definitely a great time to throw a party!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Tarot cards for Cancer for June: Four of Swords, The Wheel of Fortune, Eight of Wands

Meaning: Mercury is in your sign all June long which, alongside this chatty Eight of Wands, makes you super sociable. Not so much in a crowd (that’s not your thing) but one-on-one with people you really love and like. The conversation is great, the intimacy is building, and you feel safe and secure, ready for your birthday season to begin.

The Four of Swords gives you permission to take a little break around the Summer Solstice, maybe a weekend away, a few days off at home chilling, or just a long weekend doing very little. Bliss!

In an easy but powerful way, your life is going to look different by the end of June than the beginning. The Wheel of Fortune invites you to make one big positive change, and promises that the momentum will build and the ripple effects will spiral out, provoking wider transitions and transformations, almost effortlessly.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Tarot cards for Leo for June: Four of Coins, The High Priestess, The Lovers

Meaning: You’re in a questioning mood. The Four of Coins has you feeling a little stuck in a rut, living the same day over and over again. The Lovers has you questioning what you’re really into right now, or even who. Venus moving into Leo sparks up your desire for attention and connection and appreciation, and this can lead you off into new adventures with new faces. Just be sure you’re not throwing out the old for the sake of it. Don’t prioritise new friends over old. Be mindful about the company you seek.

The High Priestess reveals the best of times this month might happen in your own company. Meditation, mindful walks, peaceful pastimes, running or swimming, cooking or cleaning, sunbathing or gazing out of windows! Your mind has been whirring, trying to latch onto the next ‘big thing’, but I promise the fastest route to that outcome is to just be still, be quiet, be in solitude. Something amazing is brewing… let it stew a while longer.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Tarot cards for Virgo for June: King of Swords, The Star, The Hierophant

Meaning: The New Moon in Gemini mid month is a great wishful thinking phase, an invite to manifest a dream come true, and you’re well set up for that with The Star card — the tarot’s wish pass. Make it something powerful, significant and slightly out of reach. You will get cosmic help to accelerate towards your dream.

The King of Swords asks you to be rational and objective about your ideals. Make a plan, break it down, schedule the steps. Treat this manifesting lark like a proper project. The Hierophant brings the theme of education and learning into your realm, be that formally or informally, be it related to work or play, be it with you as the teacher or the apprentice, or maybe both. They say the best way to learn something is to try and teach it to someone else. You are a natural student and love soaking in new skills and knowledge, so bask in it this June!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Tarot cards for Libra for June: The Empress, Seven of Wands, Knight of Swords

Meaning: Known as the great diplomat, the people pleaser, the charmer… this June actually has you in a more assertive and even combative role with the competitive Seven of Wands and pushy Knight of Swords. Sometimes we have to put our armour on and fight back, stand up for what we believe is right, and defend our ground. The world is a realm of rivalry. So, know your foe. Protect yourself. Push for what you desire and deserve… and you will win this battle.

On the flip side, as Summer Solstice passes and Gemini changes to Cancer season, this combative mood is relinquished and you enjoy the benefits of The Empress card. She represents Venus, your ruler, and is a beautiful blessing of fertility, passion, love, family time, happy homes, and natural beauty. You will feel in flow, creative, loving and loved. A blissful start to your summer after a battle well fought.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

Tarot cards for Scorpio for June: Ten of Coins, Ace of Wands, The Devil

Meaning: Don’t they say that a form of madness is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results? Well, we all fall into that trap sometimes, and The Devil shows you’ve recently recognised a longstanding pattern in your outlook and behaviour that has led you into a no-win habit you’re keen to break. And you will!

The Ace of Wands brings that fresh energy, the motivation and determination to do it all differently. You are removing, replacing and substituting whatever is necessary in order to make this new habit the default, easy option. The key is to make your environment work for you, not against you.

The Ten of Coins is applause from the Universe for this shift — it’s the right move, it’s the right step long-term and will bring you rewards and success. So, make a plan and stick to it. Out with the old and in with the new. You can do this.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

Tarot cards for Sagittarius for June: Ten of Coins, Temperance, Five of Swords

Meaning: There’s a conflict in your mind about the best way to go about building your wealth, security, and long term prosperity right now, as shown by grounding and reality-checking Temperance and the combative Five of Swords.

From Mars entering into Gemini at the end of the month, you will have your answer, and it will be a compromise, a mixture of responses. What is the most stable and risk-free route to security? Does it yield high enough returns? Is there perhaps a middle pathway of tempering risky ventures or investments or projects underpinned with a steady heartbeat of earnings and returns?

You are a shrewd and savvy player, as shown by the Ten of Coins. You are going to build on your successes and enjoy real wealth and reward. This is a month where you reflect on how you go about it, make some bold choices, and get the ball rolling. Play to your strengths. Be led by your best hopes. Do what you’re in demand for already. Mix up the risky with the known returns.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Tarot cards for Capricorn for June: The Star, Seven of Coins, Page of Cups

Meaning: You are probably the most ‘adult’ sign of the zodiac as you’re ruled by Saturn, so you take work, money and responsibility very seriously indeed. No one ever need tell you to ‘grow up’, you were born old and wise! However, the combination of Seven of Coins and Page of Cups makes me think there has been a welcome regression unfolding this year.

You’ve been letting go of your seriousness, relinquishing burdens and chores that aren’t yours alone, refusing to take on more obligations, and letting yourself return to a more childlike, wonder-eyed, and innocent version of yourself. It has been refreshing, it has been relaxing, it has made each day that little bit more fun and magic. Keep going! You’ve reached a point now where you can see an old version of you and your dreams back then, and you remember how much you wanted a certain outcome.

The Star enters the stage to give you a dream come true pass! Use it this on this New Moon in Gemini on June 15. Make a wish. Will you spend it on this nostalgic daydream? I think you should! Let adult you make a dream into a reality for childhood you. This is going to be a magic moment this June.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

Tarot cards for Aquarius for June: Queen of Swords, Eight of Cups, Strength

Meaning: One of my favourite poems says that ‘There is room in the halls of pleasure, For a large and lordly train, but one by one we must all file on, through the narrow aisles of pain’. It’s true! In fact, for you it’s a welcome truth, as you don’t like to be watched or fussed over when you’re hurt about something, or someone.

The Queen of Swords is you in solitude right now, of your own making, because you’re processing something. Strength is the power to overcome, to heal, to push ahead wiser not wounded. You do this is solitude, with your own thoughts, putting the narrative in place, extracting the life lessons, deciding what to do next. And this process will finish this June and lead to an amazing outcome!

The Eight of Cups shows that a second chance will emerge yielding something better than what you’ve been grieving or regretting. Look ahead, get your head up, embrace the future… something great is just around the corner.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

Tarot cards for Pisces for June: Six of Wands, Seven of Cups, The Moon

Meaning: The Moon indicates that the New Moon on June 15 and the Full Moon at month end will both bring you revelations, news, information that changes the game, so pay attention, ask questions, validate and research the answers, and dig until you’ve found what you feel, intuitively, is the truth.

All month long, you will feel lucky, uplifted, supported, and met with good fortune and happy coincidences. The Six of Wands is giving you a six-week good fortune spell. Spend it wisely on things you wish to manifest in your realm. Focus on what’s good, what you want to happen, and people you love being around.

Your imagination is ignited by the Summer Solstice and sister sign Cancer’s season on June 21. You feel, with the creative Seven of Cups, full of ideas and artistic expression and whimsy. Fall into it headlong, bring your ideas to reality, breathe life into your creations. You are in full flow this June.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Kerry King has been reading, teaching and creating tarot for 30 years. Join her magical, exclusive Tarot Club for forecasts, predictions, lessons and readings straight to your inbox. Enjoy one month free for all Metro readers (no lock-in or commitment) over on Patreon.

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It is estimated that 730m bits of rubbish are dropped as litter every year in the UK. Just this weekend alone, Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) estimates that motorists will toss out three million pieces onto the roads, and there are barely verges anywhere in the country that do not sprout takeaway boxes or drinks cartons.

Littering is a distinctly different problem to fly-tipping, and Government data suggests that it 2024 there were more than 1.1m reports of rubbish being dumped illegally – that’s 3,157 reports every day, which is one every 27 seconds. Which is staggering.

Why do we use our coasts and countryside as a waste bin – and, as a KBT survey found 49 per cent of adults admitted dropping litter in the previous 12 months, this is a “we” problem?

And is it a peculiarly British problem – travellers on the continent regularly report that verges are spotless and there is a civic pride in keeping town centres tidy?

Is it because our home rubbish collections are too infrequent? Is it because we are being priced out of our local dumps? Is it because there are no longer bobbies on the street or along the prom to growl “pick it up, son” at an offender? Or is it because we are losing our pride in our local neighbourhoods and so don’t care what they look like?

Or is it simply because we are lazy?

Yet 51 per cent don’t drop litter. Perhaps that majority should step up a gear. Womble Claire Hampson says she “decided that I will be the change” and collected 10 bags of litter at Cod Beck on Tuesday. If all 70m of us picked up one piece of litter a day, the mountain of 730m pieces would be gone in a fortnight…

In the event, the SNP did not win the overall majority First Minister John Swinney sought in the 2026 Scottish election. However, between them the SNP and the Greens won 73 seats, 57% of all MSPs. It is the largest ever contingent of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood.

Yet between them the two parties won just 41% of the regional list vote. The avowed aim of the parliament’s mixed-member proportional electoral system is to produce a distribution of seats proportional to each party’s share of the list vote. However, as the table below shows, this is not the first time disproportionality has benefited the party of government and its potential allies. But it is the biggest discrepancy yet – even greater than that which favoured the Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition at the first two Holyrood elections.

Why was the outcome so disproportional? The reason lies primarily in the outcome in the constituencies. The first-past-the-post system used to elect constituency MSPs reflects a party’s standing relative to its competitors rather than simply the share of the vote it has won. Despite winning a relatively modest 38% of the constituency vote across Scotland, the SNP had a 19-point lead over its nearest rival, Labour. Given also that SNP support is geographically relatively evenly spread, such a gap was inevitably going to mean the party would win the vast bulk of the constituency seats. Only those where one of its opponents was especially strong locally were likely to avoid its grasp.

In the event, the SNP won 57 constituencies. In contrast, if in every constituency the rises and falls in each party’s support had matched exactly what happened across Scotland as a whole, the SNP would have won four more, 61 seats. Geographical variation in the parties’ performances did reduce the SNP tally somewhat – though in the Highlands & Islands the SNP found itself compensated for its resultant net loss of one seat in the allocation of list seats, leaving the party with its final total of 58 seats. Overall, the geographical variation in party performance resulted in the SNP being three seats down on what would otherwise have happened.

Two of these losses were to the Greens – one in Edinburgh and one in Glasgow. As it happened, however, the resultant reduction in the SNP’s representation in Edinburgh paved the way for the Greens to pick up a regional top-up seat on which they would otherwise have narrowly lost out. Only the second extra SNP loss in the capital (to the Liberal Democrats) served to reduce the tally of pro-independence MSPs. However, the Green success in Glasgow Southside enabled Labour to gain a top-up seat and thus did reduce the pro-independence tally by another seat.

SNP share of list vote down

In short, the gains and losses of constituency seats that arose as a consequence of locally exceptional party performance reduced the total tally of pro-independence MSPs by two – and thus helped to reduce the scale of the disproportionality in favour of pro-independence MSPs. Nevertheless, the large tally of pro-independence MSPs was wholly unsurprising given the party’s tallies on the constituency vote.

At the same time, however, the SNP’s share of the regional list vote was a record 11 points below that in the constituencies. This further served to increase the pro-independence disproportionality.

The table below shows what would have happened if all the seats in each of the eight regions had been distributed by proportional representation. In effect it shows what would have happened if the electoral system was achieving its stated aim. The SNP would have won 18 fewer seats, scattered across every region apart from Highlands & Islands. In contrast, the over-representation enjoyed by the SNP in 2021 was just four seats. The combined tally of SNP and Green seats would have been only 60, 13 down on their actual total and five short of a majority.

Holyrood’s electoral system was devised by Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Constitutional Convention. Initially it served their interests well. However, after landing the SNP a majority in 2011 on just 44% of the vote, it has now, on an even lower tally, given the SNP and the Greens the largest ever majority of pro-independence MSPs. The first law of politics is the law of unintended consequences.

A version of this article is available as part of the Scottish Election Analysis 2026.