Officers are becoming increasingly concerned, a force spokesperson has said

Police are urgently appealing for help to find a missing person from Oldham.

The person, referred to as Ajay, is described as white with a slim build, pink short hair with dark roots, facial piercings and neck tattoos.

They were last known to be wearing a black hoodie, black t-shirt and black joggers. Greater Manchester Police have said officers are becoming increasingly concerned for their welfare.

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Posting on social media, GMP Oldham wrote: “Ajay was last known to be wearing a black hoodie, black t-shirt and black joggers.“Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about Ajay and want to make sure they are safe and well.”Anyone with information about Ajay’s whereabouts should contact police on 101, quoting MSP/06QQ/0001224/26.

NEW YORK (AP) — A shooting at a Fourth of July cookout near New York’s Coney Island beach wounded eight people, including four children, police said.

One of the victims, a 21-year-old woman, was in critical condition while the others were described as being stable and expected to survive, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Sunday.

The shooting broke out Saturday night in the courtyard of an apartment building about a block from the famed Coney Island boardwalk and not far from the site of the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest held earlier on the holiday.

The police commissioner said a suspect wearing a black mask fired into the courtyard where a family had gathered for a cookout. The shooter fled but police did recover a gun, Tisch said.

The four children shot are ages 6, 7, 12 and 14, Tisch said. There were no reports of any earlier disturbances at the gathering, she said.

An investigation is underway

A man has been injured in a stabbing following an incident in Oldham. Officers were called out to Rochdale Road, in Royton, at 2.49am today (Sunday, July 5).

Greater Manchester Police said a 29-year-old man suffered injuries which were ‘consistent with a knife wound’. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

An investigation has been launched and enquiries remain ongoing this afternoon. No arrests have been made in connection with the stabbing so far.

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Officers were seen in attendance carrying out enquiries on Rochdale Road on Sunday morning. A cordon was seen at the car park outside the Co-op and Hays Travel.

A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers were called to reports of a stabbing on Rochdale Road, Royton, at 2:49am this morning. A 29-year-old man sustained injuries consistent with a knife wound, however, they are not believed to be life-threatening.

“No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.” Anyone with information can contact GMP on 101, online using LiveChat, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

US Vice President JD Vance has said Andy Burnham ‘or somebody else’ must deliver ‘significant change’ for Britain, as fears mount that the incoming Prime Minister could be on a collision course with President Donald Trump.

Burnham is set to be the seventh UK Prime Minister in just ten years, a level of political churn which Vance suggested points to a deeper malaise.

He argued the rapid turnover shows ‘something is very broken about British politics and that people are really crying out for significant structural change’.

In a subtle swipe at Burnham, the White House second-in-command questioned whether he was the right person to deliver that transformation, hinting that ‘somebody else’ may ultimately prove better suited to the task.

‘I hope that Andy Burnham – and if not Andy Burnham, somebody else – is able to deliver it,’ he said, ‘Because Britain is such a beautiful country, such an amazing place.’

Vance and Trump appear to share similar scepticism about Andy Burnham’s capacity to provide the upheaval they say the UK needs.

The President unleashed withering fire on Burnham last week when he wrote off the Manchester mayor as ‘extremely liberal‘, and admitted that he did not know much about him.

Anglo-American relations have been somewhat shaky during Keir Starmer’s premiership.

Trump summed this up in a typically blunt fashion when he first heard of Sir Keir’s resignation. He wrote a damning Truth Social post, saying the PM had ‘failed badly on two very important subjects- IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!)’.

After Trump hit out at the UK, saying Starmer had ‘failed badly’ on immigration and energy, fears of further tension were ignited when Trump slammed Burnham as ‘extremely liberal’ and admitted he didn’t know much about him

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Vance echoed Trump on Burnham, telling the Sunday Times: ‘I don’t know a lot about Andy Burnham’, but added more diplomatically, ‘Obviously, Britain is one of our closest and most important allies.

‘So whoever is the prime minister, we’re going to work with them and work with them as successfully as we can.’

But Burnham has not taken this transatlantic criticism lying down, previously warning about the ‘poisonous’ nature of American-style politics and accusing Trump of bringing ‘instability’ to the US and the world.

The MP for Makerfield appears to believe that he is indeed the man to bring about structural change, but perhaps in a different way from what Trump and Vance are suggesting.

Burnham appears to recognise a problem with an ‘out-of-touch Left-progressive establishment’ that has failed to address working-class concerns. He argues this caused a rise in what he calls the ‘new radical Right’.

In his 2024 book ‘Head North’, Burnham and Liverpool City Mayor Steve Rotheram wrote, ‘whether we like it or not, Donald Trump and Nigel Farage have been effective in connecting with people who feel politicians have neglected the place where they live.’

In his speech setting out his vision for the UK last Monday, Burnham took a different tack to make the ‘structural change’ that Vance was calling for.

He suggested the devolution of power and decentralisation of government, with the establishment of a new power base he dubbed ‘No. 10 North’ in Manchester, would be the answer.

But the former mayor’s speech failed to set out his position on the American politicians’ most notable criticisms, which centre around UK policy on immigration and environmentalism.

Neither issue was mentioned at all.

Burnham struck back and slammed US politics as ‘poisonous’ but failed to set out his position on immigration and energy. Instead, his idea for structural change is the devolution of power, he said in his speech last Monday

Vance has said Britain ‘has been failed by its leadership for a long time’ on immigration.

The Vice President became involved in UK politics to this end last month when he slammed Keir Starmer on the murder of Henry Nowak, 18, in Southampton in December 2025.

His murderer, a Sikh man, Vikrum Digwa, stabbed Mr Nowak and then falsely told police at the scene the teenager had racially abused him. Police handcuffed and arrested him as he lay dying in the street.

There should be ‘righteous anger’ in response to the killing, he said, which he blamed on ‘the politics of self-hatred and the mass invasion of migrants’.

Number 10 struck back, hitting out at ‘people trying to interfere in our democracy and seeking to stir up division on our streets’.

The US State Department, headed by Marco Rubio, had also linked ‘two-tier policing’ to Mr Nowak’s death, which was rejected by Downing Street.

Just weeks earlier, Vance urged anti-immigration protesters in the UK to ‘keep on going’ and called on Britain to follow America in protecting its borders.

The Catholic politician has also in the past accused the UK of curbing free speech over abortion clinic buffer zones.

Explaining his stance, Mr Vance said: ‘To the extent that the President or I, or secretary Rubio, are going into European institutions and encouraging people to be better, it comes from a perspective of love and admiration.

‘Even though sometimes what we say is provocative.’

Meanwhile, Mr Trump used the Fourth of July celebrations to take another sideswipe at his transatlantic allies.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, the President said: ‘Europe is learning that when you take in Third World criminals, you become a Third World Country. It happens quickly, in just a blink of the eye. I was elected just in time!!!’

The coins are thought to be around 1,700 years old

Ancient coins, a vase and pottery fragments are among the finds that have been made during archaeological work along the route of East West Rail (EWR).

Work on 1,000 trial trenches has now been complete, as part of efforts to learn what lies beneath the route and protect archaeological heritage. Several Roman coins were found in the trenches, including one which is believed to be 1,740 years old. It bears the name of Roman Emperor Carausius (c. AD 250-293), who commanded a Roman fleet based in the English Channel.

Other finds include a vase from the Iron Age and several pottery fragments. Works like this are part of the process for gaining permission to build the railway. It also helps to ensure that the project is being designed and delivered responsibly.

Over the next two years, East West Rail will complete around 6,000 archaeological trial trenches along the railway route in Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. Each trench is around 50 metres long and two metres wide, and is excavated to a depth of half a metre.

When archaeological features are identified, archaeologists then excavate targeted sample sections, known as slots, within the trenches to better understand their age, condition, and significance.

Jorn Pace, Programme Manager at EWR Co, said: “It’s a really exciting time for the project because this programme represents an important step in helping us better understand the historic environment while continuing to progress East West Rail responsibly.

“We’re working closely with landowners and local communities throughout the process to minimise disruption, keep people informed and restore land as closely as possible to its previous condition once works are complete.

“By carrying out targeted investigations informed by detailed surveys, we can reduce unnecessary disturbance and ensure we take a careful and considered approach to both the environment and the communities around us.”

Before excavation begins, EWR Co undertakes geophysical surveys to identify areas of archaeological interest, alongside ecological and utility assessments. This information helps shape delivery plans that minimise impacts on farming activity, biodiversity, and day-to-day land use.

Mike Court, Historic Environment Lead at EWR Co, said: “Understanding the archaeology beneath the surface is essential to helping us design and deliver the railway in a way that respects the environment and our shared heritage.

“The information gathered through this programme contributes directly to our Environmental Impact Assessment and enables us to understand the significance of any archaeology that may be affected, plan appropriate mitigation and preserve important knowledge for future generations.”

Investigations completed to date suggest that parts of the route contain evidence of activity dating back to the Iron Age and Roman periods, offering valuable insight into how people lived and worked in the region thousands of years ago. Metal detectors are used in all of the excavated trenches to help identify any finds.

Joss Piper-Jarrett, Archaeology Survey Manager at EWR Co, said: “Every discovery helps build a richer picture of the people who once lived here. When you’re excavating these features, you’re often the first person to see them in 2,000 years, sometimes even longer, which is a really special feeling – it’s pretty amazing.

“Safeguarding and preserving these artefacts is a key part of the process. Once excavated, finds are carefully cleaned, analysed, recorded and added to the archaeological archive.

“Where discoveries are considered particularly significant, there may also be opportunities for them to be displayed in local museums so communities can continue to connect with their local history.”

Three firefighters who were killed battling flames on the Colorado-Utah border are being remembered as brave heroes who were trailblazers in their industries.

Wildfires have spread across the West fueled by months of dry weather and a record lack of snow, forcing residents from their homes as crews work to tamp down the flames.

Emily Barker, Nick Hutcherson and Sydney Watson were killed Saturday, June 27, and two others sustained burn injuries when they were overcome by flames from fast-moving fires in Mesa County. They deployed emergency protective shelters, which are considered a “last resort” for firefighters when there is no other way out.

They were assigned to a Helitack crew that can be dropped into remote areas by helicopters and whose mission is to prevent new fires from growing into out-of-control blazes.

Their deaths came almost 13 years to the day since an elite crew of 19 wildland firefighters died when they were trapped in a steep canyon in Yarnell, Arizona.

A memorial service will be held for the three firefighters at 11 a.m. Sunday at Las Colonias Park Amphitheater in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Emily Barker

Barker, 38, had so much spirit, and the people around her always strived to be a better person by her presence, said Sarah Brubeck Schnurbusch, a friend and former roommate.

Barker was from Clinton, Michigan, and liked hiking, skiing, dirt biking and playing hockey. She loved firefighting.

“I’ve never seen someone so excited to go to work,” Brubeck Schnurbusch said. She added that her friend was an expert who helped pave the way for many women in the industry.

She said she is hopeful that Barker’s death opens people’s eyes to the hard work firefighters are putting in day in and day out.

“I just hope that Emily knows the impact that she left on everybody else, and how many people really truly love her,” she said.

Nick Hutcherson

Hutcherson, 27, served in the U.S. Navy and had plans to become a physical therapy doctor, according to the Kaibab National Forest in northern Arizona where he was assigned. He was also an active member of the Northern Arizona Deaf and American Sign Language community and was a dedicated Muay Thai practitioner who trained at Southside Combat Academy in Flagstaff.

Hutcherson was from Glendale, Arizona.

The Kaibab National Forest said it is heartbroken over his death. Hutcherson exemplified the agency’s commitment to serving the public and the courage wildland firefighters bring to the job, it said.

The combat academy described Hutcherson as a warrior and said it is forever grateful to have known him and to have fought alongside him.

“We lost a good one,” read a social media post. “If you met Nick, you loved Nick. He was such a gentle and genuine soul. We are still in disbelief.”

Sydney Watson

Watson, 27, was from Warrior, Alabama, and graduated from the University of Tennessee Southern, according to the university.

A former pitcher on the softball team and “a quiet, composed leader,” Watson was assigned to the U.S. Wildland Fire Service Rifle Helitack crew, the university said in a statement.

In 2023, Watson participated in a program in North Carolina organized by the Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, the collaborative group wrote in a statement.

In her application for the program, she said she wanted to see more women on the fire line and to work with and learn from other women in the fire industry, the statement said.

“It’s hard for people outside of the firefighting world to understand why we do what we do. We do it because we love it. Sydney loved it,” the group wrote.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s 1,000 guests have started to share details of what has been dubbed the wedding of the century.

The superstar couple, both 36, tied the knot in front of around 1,000 family members, friends and A-list celebrities during an extravagant celebration at Madison Square Garden on Friday.

And while the nuptials have been shrouded in secrecy, quite literally thanks to the privacy the New York City venue offers, the dazzling array of celeb guests have started to spill details to social media.

With Travis’s sports superstar buddies mingling with every A-lister Taylor has worked with or befriended over the years, the wedding was comparable to the Oscars in terms of the sheer star power packed into MSG.

Paul Rudd, a Kansas City Chiefs superfan who has worked with Travis on charity projects, enjoyed the night with fellow actor Adam Scott, who shared a morning-after Instagram photo which sparked comments from fellow guests.

Paul, his wife Julie Yaeger and Adam and his wife Naomi looked stunning in their wedding finery in the snap.

Toni Collette was quick to comment gushing about their shared fun, ‘So good to see you guys! What a night?! You all look so beautiful in this picture’.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis, who appeared in Taylor’s 2022 music video for Anti-Hero, gave some insight into the reception entertainment as she gushed: ‘Yes!! Dancing with y’all was a highlight of my night!! ✨’ 

Singer Kelsea Ballerini also gushed about the dancing, sharing a photo of her look as she wrote: ‘long live a love story. ❤️ congrats on the most beautiful wedding i’m still crying and dancing.’

Music video director Joseph Kahn, who has helmed eight videos for Taylor gushed that the star-studded nuptials meant he got to meet some of his filmmaker heroes.

‘Had a wonderful time at Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce’s wedding last night,’ Kahn gushed on Instagram. ‘I got to meet Steven Spielberg and the lovely Kate Capshaw and talk filmmaking with the GOAT (lifelong dream achieved).’

‘What I will say about the wedding was it was so much funnier and emotional than expected, and as big as it was, it also felt very intimate.’

The superstar couple, both 36, tied the knot in front of around 1,000 family members, friends and A-list celebrities during an extravagant celebration at Madison Square Garden on Friday 

Paul Rudd, a Kansas City Chiefs superfan who has worked with Travis on charity projects, enjoyed the night with fellow actor Adam Scott

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Adam’s post sparked a flurry of comments from fellow guests, including Toni Collette who gushed about their shared fun, ‘So good to see you guys! What a night?! ‘

Music video director Joseph Kahn, who has helmed eight videos for Taylor gushed that the star-studded nuptials meant he got to meet some of his filmmaker heroes

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‘And yes, literally everyone was there. I told Lotte many times it was like living in the internet, and AI would crack if it tried to render it. Anyway congratulations Taylor and Travis! Wishing your beautiful family and future family endless happiness!’

Suki Waterhouse, a years-long pal of Taylor’s also shared her first glimpse of her wedding look on Sunday.

In a carousel of photos about her trip to NYC, the Brit model and actress included a selfie of herself in a stunning silver sequin dress.

Suki, unlike many other guests, had confirmed her invitation to the wedding months prior. Speaking to Variety earlier this year, she revealed she would be attending before joking that it might inspire plans for her own nuptials with fiancé Robert Pattinson.

Jessica Alba shared a post-wedding recap on Instagram, as she showed off her Prada dress and wrote: ‘We love love Congrats to T&T – such a beautiful night celebrating you.’

Niecy Nash documented her car ride to MSG and wrote after the big night: ‘The Betts pulled up to the Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift wedding . A time was had! The love in the room was palpable. Wowwwwwww‼️ is the best way to describe it. From beginning to end no detail was spared! Congrats! Welcome to the club!

Suki Waterhouse, a years-long pal of Taylor’s also shared her first glimpse of her wedding look on Sunday. In a carousel of photos about her trip to NYC, the Brit model and actress included a selfie of herself in a stunning silver sequin dress

Niecy Nash documented her car ride to MSG and wrote after the big night: ‘The Betts pulled up to the Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift wedding. A time was had! The love in the room was palpable’

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BBC Radio 1 star Greg James, who has been friends with Taylor for years after interviewing her multiple times, shared a photo of a slice of pizza, and joked: ‘I am currently experiencing the world’s greatest hangover and unable to reply to the hilarious number of messages I have received over the last 24hrs. 

‘But just&t to say: true to her word, of course the invitation arrived and I couldn’t tell anyone. And oh my God, what an unbelievably brilliant night. I’m off for a nap.’

The morning after the lavish bash, country star Maren Morris gave fans a peek inside the festivities by sharing a series of glamorous Instagram snaps from the wedding, including one unexpected keepsake.

Tucked at the end of the carousel was a custom handkerchief gifted to guests as a wedding favor – and Swifties were quick to spot a subtle nod to the singer’s music.

The personalized memento featured the couple’s bespoke wedding logo, made up of two intertwined Ts framed by hearts, alongside the wedding date, July 3, 2026, and the location, New York City.

But the sweetest touch was embroidered in one corner: the opening lyric from Swift’s 2014 hit Blank Space – ‘So it’s gonna be forever…’ 

BBC Radio 1 star Greg James shared a photo of a slice of pizza, and joked: ‘I am currently experiencing the world’s greatest hangover’

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Guests at the wedding may be finding an extra special thank you gift in their mailboxes, as insiders have claimed the newlyweds 1,000 friends and family will receive a film of the wedding as part of a lavish gift package.

The couple had camera crews following them around their spectacular wedding to film a documentary, the insiders have claimed.

The couple are yet to release any photos or footage of their big day, while details from guests have been trickling through amid the NDAs and tight security surrounding the event.

But it’s thought the bride was keen to capture every moment of her dream day.   

According to sources, there will be a documentary about the wedding, with the rumours intensifying after signs reading ‘No parking’ for a ‘film shoot’ were spotted around MSG from Wednesday. 

The film will cover everything from the planning stage to the day itself, it’s claimed, with the insider adding to The Sun US that the finished film will be sent to guests as part of a ‘thank you for coming’ present package. 

In another clue, Taylor invited Disney execs Bob Iger, Dana Walden, and David Greenbaum to the wedding. The star has an existing relationship with Disney as the studio’s streaming service, Disney+, released her documentary projects The End of an Era and Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions.

Another major media figure in attendance was AMC Theaters CEO Adam Aron, who worked with Taylor to release her 2023 concert film Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, which took £195 million worldwide. 

Some Swifties have speculated though that pop superstar Taylor was more likely to have captured footage for a future music video, rather than reveal all in a documentary. 

On Reddit one top comment pointed out: ‘Taylor has used family photos and clips over the years so may have put up the notice so that she could choose to use photos or video clips down the line if she wants to.’

‘Maybe a short clip makes it into a YouTube short or maybe one day she writes a song about this time in her life and she wants to include footage from the wedding.’

The morning after the lavish bash, country star Maren Morris gave fans a peek inside the festivities by sharing a series of glamorous Instagram snaps from the wedding, including one unexpected keepsake

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AMC boss Aron was among the first to spill some details about the wedding. Just hours after the lavish festivities wrapped, he shared an unusually detailed account of the ceremony in a since-deleted post on X. 

According to Aron, the couple exchanged vows that were ‘long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing.’

‘Then the vows. Long, entertaining, personal, charming, emotional, irreverent and endearing explorations by each as to how they met, why they want to be with each other for all eternity, the promises they made in joining their much-beloved two whole families (Kelce’s and Swift’s) as one, and committing to their new mutual life together,’ he wrote.

Aron said the ceremony took place inside a transformed Madison Square Garden that ‘did not look like Madison Square Garden,’ with the venue draped in ‘peach and white’ and decorated with oversized photos of the bride and groom from childhood through their teenage years.

According to Aron, Kelce looked ‘handsome’ in a white tuxedo while Swift stunned in a white wedding gown with a long veiled train before an officiant who was ‘warm and welcoming, funny and eloquent’ led the ceremony.

After the couple sealed their marriage with what Aron described as a ‘sweep you off your feet kiss,’ guests moved into an elaborate ‘Secret Garden’-themed reception featuring five-story illuminated trees, an A-list crowd, lavish food and drink and plenty of music.

He ended his post by calling the ceremony ‘real, pure, true joy’ and declaring that, in a world filled with conflict and division, the couple’s wedding proved ‘that love conquers all.’

Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Sacha Baron Cohen, Hugh Grant, Reese Witherspoon, Graham Norton, Ethan Hawke, Ed Sheeran, Cindy Crawford, Suki Waterhouse and Emma Stone were all spotted entering the venue on Friday.

Beyonce and Jay Z are understood to have attended as did Dua Lipa, Jessica Alba, Chris Rock, Bradley Cooper, Dakota Johnson and Gigi Hadid.

Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks performed at the reception and was followed by Sir Paul. 

Taylor’s former ‘BFF forever’, actress Blake Lively, was reportedly not invited after they fell out after Swift’s name was dragged into the the actress’s bitter legal battle with co-star Justin Baldoni.

It comes after the price cap change on July 1

People have been warned to “never assume” if they are struggling with bills.

According to an expert at consumer champion, Which?, many households may feel the impact, with the price cap having increased on July 1, 2026. The BBC reports: “Regulator Ofgem says the war means a household using a typical amount of gas and electricity will pay £221 more a year, with an annual bill of £1,862.”

Which? also says similar, noting that much of the rise is driven by conflict in the Middle East. This has pushed up global oil and gas prices, and by the government shifting some environmental policy costs from electricity bills to gas bills.

Don’t assume

However, in key advice, Sarah Ingrams is urging people not to assume “a big energy provider gives better customer service.” With over 10 years’ experience writing about consumer affairs, the expert leads on energy content at Which?, helping customers navigate the market and exposing poor practice.

She writes: “British Gas, EDF Energy, E.on Next, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy and Scottish Power supply gas and electricity to around 92% of households in Great Britain, according to Ofgem. Some customers have stuck with them for years, and others have never been with a different provider.

“But our research finds big differences between the quality of their customer service, whether customers consider them to be good value for money and the extent to which their practices are in the best interests of customers.”

With this in mind, people should always shop around to ensure they get the best value for money. But before people sign up for a deal, there are a few things they should always check.

Which? says to always check:

• Exit fees – how much they cost
• Length of tariff – usually 12, 18 or 24 months
• How direct debit works – is it a fixed monthly amount or does it vary depending on what you use?
• Warm Home Discount – if eligible, will a new supplier pay it? Some of the smallest suppliers aren’t included in the scheme.
• Solar Export Payments – some providers offer preferential rates for customers, so you might lose a rate if you switch suppliers, or find a better rate to move to.
• Peak and off-peak times – a small number of ‘time of use’ tariffs are available, with different rates at different times of day. If that’s you, make sure you know the time slots and can act accordingly.

Fixed deals

In addition to never assuming, the expert asks people to set reminders so you “don’t forget when your fixed deal is ending.”

She explains: “If you signed up to a fixed deal, it’s likely to be 12, 18 or 24 months long. When your contract ends, you’ll automatically move onto your provider’s out-of-contract or default tariff if you take no action.

“Default tariffs are set by the energy price cap and change every three months. They rise by 13% today and are expected to remain as high when the cap is next adjusted in October.

“Your supplier should remind you that your fixed tariff is ending 49 days before it does. You can also check your tariff end date in your app, online account or your latest statement.

“Seven weeks’ notice might feel like a long time and it’s easy to put it aside for later and end up paying more than you need to as a result. But you can actually switch, without paying any exit fees, in the last 49 days of your tariff. “

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR

Published: 10:53 BST, 5 July 2026 | Updated: 14:51 BST, 5 July 2026

Andy Burnham has urged England fans to grab the ‘golden chance’ to be in the pub until the early hours of tomorrow morning.

The PM-in-waiting said he wanted the country to ‘make the most’ of the World Cup showdown even though it is a ‘school night’.

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Employers are braced for staff to turn up late, extremely weary or not at all in the wake of the clash with Mexico. 

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has also been pleading with parents not to let kids skip school after watching the game. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 1am UK time after a last-ditch move to bring it forward was blocked yesterday. With delays for thunderstorms also possible, that means the contest might not end until 3am or even later. 

In a video wishing the team luck, Mr Burnham said: ‘What a golden chance to be in the pub together at 1am on a school night… make the most of it everybody, but mainly let’s hope that England do the job – come on England.’ 

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Andy Burnham has urged England fans to grab the ‘golden chance’ to be in the pub until the early hours of tomorrow morning

Mr Burnham said he wanted the country to ‘make the most’ of the World Cup showdown even though it is a ‘school night’

It is the first time England have played at Mexico’s high-altitude Azteca stadium (pictured) since the ‘hand of God’ match against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup

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The former Greater Manchester Mayor is expected to watch the event live tonight. It is the first time England have played at Mexico’s high-altitude Azteca stadium since the ‘hand of God’ match against Argentina at the 1986 World Cup.

Downing Street initially suggested Arsenal fan Keir Starmer‘s schedule tomorrow was too busy, but he is now proposing to watch.

The Government has announced that pubs across England will be able to stay open until 5am without licence extensions, although the decision came too late for many to make arrangements.  

Mr Burnham makes great play of his fondness for football. 

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An Everton fan, he was a member of the notorious New Labour ‘Demon Eyes’ team alongside the likes of Ed Balls and James Purnell – both now tipped to be part of his Government.

Mr Burnham has pledged to promote sport, and yesterday backed calls for football fans to be allowed to booze in the stands at matches.

In a social media post, he criticised the ban which has been in place for England’s top five leagues for more than forty years in a bid to curb hooliganism.

In contrast, Downing Street has suggested that Arsenal fan Keir Starmer’s schedule tomorrow is too busy for him to stay up so late

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