Connect with us

NewsBeat

Person found dead on tracks near Bolton Railway Station

Published

on

Person found dead on tracks near Bolton Railway Station

British Transport Police (BTP) said they were called to “reports of a casualty on the tracks” on the line near Bolton Railway Station at around 3.45pm.

Despite the efforts of paramedics, who also attended the incident, the person was declared dead at the scene.

BTP said that the incident is “not being treated as suspicious” and they will prepare a file for the coroner.

Advertisement

Train services between Bolton and Preston were disrupted and replacement buses were put in place while emergency services worked on the scene.

A spokesperson for BTP said: “Officers were called to the line near Bolton Railway Station at 3:44pm today (4 March) to reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended, and sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

NewsBeat

Much-loved Chorley GP Dr Zak died after falling from cliff

Published

on

Much-loved GP Dr Zak died after falling from cliff

Dr Zakariya Waqar-Uddin, known as Dr Zak, was tragically found at the bottom of Huntcliff in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, on May 21, nine days after he went missing from his home in Lancashire.

The 44-year-old, who grew up in Euxton and was a GP in Chorley, was due to visit the dentist and travelled to Teesside, where a flat he had was up for sale. 

He also worked as a GP at Buckshaw Village Medical Group and Standish Medical Practice.

However, Dr Zakariya’s family did not hear from him, and he was reported missing. On May 21, coastguard teams sadly discovered his body. 

Advertisement

An inquest at Teesside Coroners’ Court, sitting at Middlesbrough Town Hall, heard how Dr Zakariya died from multiple traumatic injuries due to a fall from a height. 



His mother, Patricia Waqar-Uddin, who attended the inquest alongside other family members, described her son as “charming, helpful, and very compassionate to all whom he met”. 

She said he had “no airs and graces” despite his successful career and was the “best son any parents could ever hope for in life”. 

The inquest, held on Tuesday (March 3) heard how Dr Zakariya had previously suffered from some stress following the breakdown of his marriage and the dissolution of his GP partnership. 

Advertisement

However, two months before his death, there was no mention of any mental health concerns when he spoke with a dermatologist. 

The inquest heard how his mother had tried to ring him on the day he left his home, but that his phone was switched off, and she could not confirm whether he had been to the dentist. 

After he was reported missing, a search was launched across Teesside after his dark purple Volkswagen Touran was found, before his body was found on May 21.

Dr Zakariya was identified through his dental records, and there were no significant toxicology findings, a report confirmed.

Advertisement

Daughter Jasmine ‘will make Zakariya extremely proud’

Dr Zakariya’s former partner, Laura Jane Dunning, fought back the tears as she paid tribute to him during the inquest, saying he was “charismatic, had a warm smile, and a very good sense of humour”. 

Ms Dunning said Zak, whom she married in October 2016 and shares daughter Jasmine, now eight, with, said she took comfort in the fact Dr Zakariya knew she was “well and happy”. 

She said: “I am distraught and I am very sad that Jasmine has lost her father.

“She will continue to be loved and cherished, and I know she will make him extremely proud. 

Advertisement

Dr Zak (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“I hope Zak found his peace, and I thank him for the many happy times we had together.”

During the inquest, Coroner Bailey had to consider whether Dr Zakariya had intended to take his own life, but this was ruled out.

Ms Waqar-Uddin told Coroner Bailey that her son was not agitated when he left his home and did not believe he intended to take his own life. 

She said there was no communication about intent left at his home and that he was also applying for jobs: “He had too many plans for the future.” 

Advertisement

Coroner Bailey recorded a narrative conclusion, saying: “Dr Zakariya was found dead at the bottom of Huntcliff in Saltburn on May 21. 

“It is not known how or when he exited the top of Huntcliff.”

‘We will miss him deeply’

In a statement, Ms Waqar-Uddin said Dr Zakariya was more than his profession and treated his patients with the “same care and respect he gave to his family”.

She said: “On social media, there were more than a thousand tributes to him when his death was announced.

Advertisement

“He often spoke of the joy and satisfaction being a GP brought to him.

“To us, he was the best son any parents could ever hope for in life, and we will miss him deeply for the rest of our lives.

“He was grateful to his youngest brother, Yusuf, for the love and support he extended to him despite living and working 6,000 miles away.

“To Yusuf, on Zakariya’s and our behalf, we say thank you, son. We are so proud of you. Proud that you were there and supported Zakariya, and was a kind and loving brother to him.

Advertisement

“He cared and loved his daughter Jasmine, but missed her greatly, so much so that the pain of not seeing her became unbearable for him.

“Some in the medical profession need to have a more compassionate and caring approach. 

“As one doctor said to Zakariya, ‘the trouble with you Zak, is that you actually care for the patients, whereas I just care about the money’.

“One patient wrote: ‘Dr Zak was a brilliant GP. The medical profession and humanity are the poorer for his passing.’

Advertisement

“In conclusion, Zakariya deserved a long and fulfilling life. He gave so much to us, his parents and to his patients, and we will miss him deeply.”

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Apple unveils cheapest ever MacBook

Published

on

Apple unveils cheapest ever MacBook

The display is a 13-inch panel that Apple calls Liquid Retina. It’s the same technology as the MacBook Air, though it lacks Apple’s ‘True Tone’, which adapts the display colours to your environment to help with eye strain. It is also fractionally smaller than the 13.6-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch base model of the MacBook Pro, but that gives it an advantage in portability, weighing the same as the MacBook Air at 1.2kg.

Battery life is said to be up to 11 hours for browsing the web or 16 hours for streaming video, while connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 6. The MacBook Neo runs macOS 26 Tahoe, which is the latest software version, matching the more expensive MacBooks.

Why does it matter?

I’ve reviewed Apple MacBooks for the last decade, and I used them for the decade before that. The announcement of the MacBook Neo is huge, not only because it makes Apple’s laptops accessible to a wider range of people, but also because it will reinvigorate the budget end of the laptop market in terms of competition.

I’ll be honest, I never thought Apple would hit the £600 price bracket for a laptop, which is actually £500 when you take into account the education discount available to students and teachers. The company has always positioned its MacBooks as premium products compared to Windows laptops, with fancy designs, better performance for creatives, and longer battery life.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Pep Guardiola late twist cannot save messy Man City in damaging Nottingham Forest draw

Published

on

Manchester Evening News

Manchester City weren’t good enough against Nottingham Forest as they fell seven points behind Arsenal with a game in hand after a 2-2 draw

Advertisement

With 30 minutes left of Manchester City’s game with Nottingham Forest, Pep Guardiola was ready to twist. Impatient after Nottingham Forest’s equaliser and an average showing from his starters, the coach had Nathan Ake and Jeremy Doku ready to come on.

Then City did what they do worse than nearly every team in the league and scored from a corner. To make it even sourer for Arsenal, it was their old nemesis Rodri who got on the end of Rayan Ait-Nouri’s corner and powered his header into the net.

City’s Ballon d’Or winner absolutely loved it, pumping his fists repeatedly in front of the family stand to celebrate the goal. It was his first in the Premier League since the final day of the 2023/24 season when it helped to crown the team champions, and without this goal they would have stood less chance of chasing Arsenal down this year.

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our City WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our City Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

Advertisement

The goal, and the celebration, lifted the noise at the Etihad after an evening where the team had toiled. They hadn’t been at their best despite Antoine Semenyo neatly giving them a first-half lead with a clever finish for his 12th goal of the season.

It was niggly rather than nice as City were unusually wayward on the ball and slow in attack. If they were going to survive, they needed a watertight defence.

That ended when Morgan Gibbs-White backheeled through the legs of Ruben Dias and past a stunned Gigio Donnarumma early in the second half, leading to Guardiola feeling the need to twist. Rodri’s goal was the vindication of sticking with the same players that have pulled City back into this title race after results at United and Tottenham left them feeling low.

Even that wasn’t enough though. City were punished again for sloppy play as Elliot Anderson smashed one in from outside the box, curling it around Marc Guehi and past Donnarumma to once again silence the crowd. This time Guardiola twisted, with Abdukodir Khusanov and Doku coming on, but the damage had been done.

Advertisement

Haaland and Rodri had penalty claims, Sels did brilliantly to tip over a Semenyo free-kick and Savinho’s shot was cleared off the line with the last kick of the game. A messy end for a messy night, and not the performance or the result City needed to kick off a critical month for their season.

City know they can play much better than this, whoever is on the pitch. They are going to need to if they are to have any hope of catching Arsenal in their final nine matches.

Buy Carabao Cup Final VIP tickets

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 04: Erling Haaland of Manchester City gestures during the Carabao Cup Semi Final Second Leg match between Manchester City and Newcastle United at Etihad Stadium on February 04, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images)

From £1,399

Seat Unique

Advertisement

Buy tickets here

The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Brighton v Arsenal live: Premier League latest score and updates

Published

on

Brighton v Arsenal live: Premier League latest score and updates

FULL-TIME! Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal pass another huge test in the title race and have gone SEVEN points clear at the top, with Manchester City dropping points at Nottingham Forest.

(Action Images via Reuters)

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:30

Advertisement

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

90+7 mins: Two potential chances to force the issue go begging for Brighton as Ayari’s free-kick from deep doesn’t reach the box, before resulting cross from the right goes all the way out for a free-kick.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:29

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

90+5 mins: After a bit of a scramble in the Arsenal box, the visitors come away with the ball and win a free-kick.

Advertisement

The away end breaks out into song. This could be a massive, massive night in the title race.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:27

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

90+2 mins: Veltman clatters (fairly) into Saka, leaving the Englishman in a heap.

Advertisement

The Brighton defender is eager to pull stand-in skipper Saka to his feet, who ironically shoves him back and causes him to hit the deck.

Arsenal’s players don’t get too riled up about the exchange. Maybe because after Gabriel Martinelli’s antics earlier this season, there would be a bit of hypocrisy to any complaints.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:25

Advertisement

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

90+1 mins: SEVEN added minutes for Arsenal to hold on.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:22

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

90 mins: Into the last minute of normal time.

Advertisement

Arsenal are winning, Man City are drawing. Could this be a night we look back on when the Gunners won the league?

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:21

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

88 mins: SAVE! That would’ve sealed it!

Advertisement

Havertz is played into space and jogs his way into the area before drilling at Verbruggen’s near post, but the Dutchman is equal to it.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:20

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

86 mins: Arsenal have kind of killed the tempo of this game in the past 15 minutes – which is exactly what they needed to do.

Advertisement

Brighton will need to muster something out of nothing to find an equaliser at this rate. They’ve got no momentum.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:18

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

82 mins: All sorts of delays at the Amex, starting with a yellow card for Kadioglu after shoving Saka to the ground.

Advertisement

Saka and Welbeck then seem to share pleasantries while he walks to take the throw.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:15

Brighton 0-1 Arsenal

80 mins: The Arsenal fans are in full voice, understandably. Things are going their way across the board.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, there’s some changes to bring you.

Arsenal have looked to sure things up in midfield by bringing on Norgaard for Zubimendi, while it’s a triple change for Brighton.

Veltman, Ayari and Howell comes on for Wieffer, Baleba and Gomez.

Will Castle4 March 2026 21:13

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Second man charged in connection with death of another man in Haddington

Published

on

Daily Record

A 61-year-old man has been charged in connection with the death of a 54-year-old man in Haddington.

A second man has been charged in connection with the death of a man in East Lothian. Emergency services were called to Carlyle Gardens in Haddington on Tuesday, February 10.

Advertisement

A 54-year-old man was found injured in a property and was taken to hospital. Sadly, he died on Wednesday, February 18.

Officers from Police Scotland have now arrested and charged a 61-year-old man in connection with the death. He is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, March 5.

It comes after Mark Ingle was arrested and charged by police last week. The 41-year-old appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday, February 25, charged with murder.

He made no plea and was remanded in custody to appear again at the court within eight days.

Advertisement

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Inspector Ross Duthie, of the Major Investigation Team, previously said: “My thoughts are with the man’s family and friends at this difficult time. We have a dedicated team of officers carrying out extensive enquiries and a police presence remains in Haddington as part of this.”

Advertisement

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “A second man has been arrested and charged in connection with the death of a man. Officers attended a property in Carlyle Gardens in Haddington around 12.40pm on Tuesday, 10 February, 2026.

“A 54-year-old man was taken to hospital, where he later died on Wednesday, 18 February. The 61-year-old man is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Thursday, 5 March.

“A 41-year-old man has previously been arrested and charged in connection with his death. He appeared in court on Wednesday, 25 February.”

Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Aesthetica and York St John bring back business academy

Published

on

Aesthetica and York St John bring back business academy

Aesthetica and York St John University are bringing back The Creative Business Skills Academy this Spring, offering 12 fully funded places to creative founders and business owners.

After a successful launch in 2024, the free 12-week in-person programme will run from May 6 to July 29, taking place on Wednesdays from 6-9pm.

The programme aims to equip entrepreneurs with the practical tools, strategic frameworks and industry networks required to build sustainable ventures.

Advertisement

RECOMMENDED READING:

The Academy supports creatives at the crucial early stages of starting, growing and scaling their businesses.

York is one of just 27 cities worldwide to hold a UNESCO City of Media Arts designation and the Academy aims to use this global recognition to help people get into the creative sector.

Cherie Federico, Director of Aesthetica, said: “York’s UNESCO City of Media Arts designation is not simply a title – it is a call to action. The Creative Business Skills Academy is about turning creative potential into sustainable businesses.

Advertisement

“By investing directly in founders and small enterprises, we are building the infrastructure that allows creativity to thrive, generate employment and shape the future of our city. Supporting entrepreneurial talent at grassroots level is how we secure long-term cultural and economic impact.”

The Academy is free to attend and tailored specifically for start-ups and early-stage founders working across architecture, film, fine art, gaming, XR, textiles, fashion and related disciplines.

Each weekly session includes a 1.5-hour practical workshop, a one-hour masterclass led by industry experts, and dedicated time for structured networking and peer exchange.

Key topics include branding, marketing, project management, developing income streams, accountancy, legal frameworks, HR, sales, negotiation, strategy, scaling and growth — core skills that underpin resilient creative enterprises.

Advertisement

Confirmed speakers include: Alison Grade, founder of Mission Accomplished; Farah Hussain, founder of Farah Networking; Kit Monkman, co-founder of Viridian FX; and Cherie Federico of Aesthetica, amongst others. Their collective expertise spans enterprise, publishing, immersive technology, networking and global brand building.

Professor Brendan Paddison, Dean of York Business School at York St John University, said: “As a university rooted in York, we recognise the transformative role creative enterprise plays in regional prosperity.

“Our partnership in the Creative Business Skills Academy reflects our commitment to equipping founders with the strategic insight, commercial awareness and leadership capability needed to scale successfully.

“By connecting academic expertise with industry practice, we are strengthening the creative ecosystem and ensuring that innovation translates into meaningful economic growth.”

Advertisement

For more details and to apply for any of the 12 free places, go to: https://creativeskillsacademy.org

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Newcastle v Manchester United live: Premier League team news and line-ups

Published

on

Newcastle v Manchester United live: Premier League team news and line-ups

‘Boos ring around St James’ Park’

Reaction to that equalising goal from Chris Wilson at St James’ Park:

“Boos ring around St James’ Park as incensed Newcastle fans see their side lose their lead within minutes.

“Chants of ‘Your’re not fit to referee’ could be heard after Peter Bankes awarded that free-kick, and the the visitors scored with more or less the last kick of the half.

Advertisement

“It was a well-taken goal from Casemiro though – the Brazilian has made headed goals a bit of a trademark.”

Chris Wilson4 March 2026 21:12

HALF-TIME: Newcastle 1-1 Man United

‘45+10: Boos rain down as the whistle finally, finally goes for half-time. A nuts end to that half.

Advertisement

Newcastle are down to 10 after Ramsey’s second yellow, still briefly went ahead through a stellar penalty by Gordon, before Casemiro pulled one back with yet another header from a free-kick.

The Toon Army are very unhappy with how much stoppage time was played there, with United scoring the equaliser in the dying minutes of it.

(Getty Images)

Flo Clifford4 March 2026 21:12

Advertisement

GOAL! Newcastle 1-1 Man United

’45+9: Somehow, ludicrously, we’re still going into the ninth minute of what should have been three of additional time. Fernandes plays in a free-kick on the right, it bends beautifully into the path of Casemiro, and he knocks in a header!

(Action Images via Reuters)

Flo Clifford4 March 2026 21:10

‘Nothing less than Newcastle deserve’

Reaction to that opening goal from Chris Wilson at St James’ Park:

“A stonewall penalty after a silly foul from Fernandes and Anthony Gordon steps up and dispatches it comfortably.

Advertisement

“Perhaps deserved after a huge slice of bad luck (or poor refereeing) that originally denied the hosts a penalty and gave them a red card.

“And it’s nothing less than Newcastle deserve after a half in which they’ve been on top for the majority.”

Chris Wilson4 March 2026 21:07

Advertisement

GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Man United

‘45+5: Gordon scores straight down the middle! 15 goals in all competitions, and nine straight penalties converted!

Flo Clifford4 March 2026 21:06

PENALTY! Newcastle 0-0 Man United

‘45+’3: The late first-half drama continues! Newcastle have been reduced to 10 but have a penalty! Gordon cuts into the box, Bruno Fernandes catches him and brings his man down – and Bankes points to the spot!

Advertisement

Flo Clifford4 March 2026 21:05

‘Bemusement around St James’

The latest from Chris Wilson at St James’ Park:

“This half had really sprung into life but the entire match now threatens to be derailed thanks to some poor refereeing.

Advertisement

“VAR can’t interfere with a second yellow but there is bemusement around St James’ as to how Ramsey has been sent off there.”

Chris Wilson4 March 2026 21:04

RED CARD! Newcastle 0-0 Man United

‘45+1: Newcastle’s task has just got a lot, lot harder. Ramsey trips over Lammens in the box and goes to ground, and Peter Bankes brandishes a second yellow for simulation!

Advertisement

Ramsey is off, and Newcastle are down to 10!

Flo Clifford4 March 2026 21:02

‘Man Utd’s first clear-cut chance’

The latest from Chris Wilson at St James’ Park:

Advertisement

“Man Utd’s first clear-cut chance of the half comes after some clever footwork from Sesko, but Ramsdale is eventually equal to Mainoo’s effort from distance, getting across to get a strong hand to it.

“And moments later, it’s a real sitter from Mbeumo as he blasts over the reboun after brilliant work from Cunha on the left.

“The visitors have barely been in it for large portions of this opening 45 but they’ll probably feel they could be ahead!”

Chris Wilson4 March 2026 21:01

Advertisement

OVER THE BAR! Newcastle 0-0 Man United

‘45: Good grief, Cunha makes a great run, cuts inside and Ramsdale dives to save – and Mbuemo blasts the rebound over the bar! Huge wasted opportunity with Ramsdale down on the ground.

Flo Clifford4 March 2026 21:00

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Katie Price declares ‘there’s no going back now’ with new tattoo tribute to Lee

Published

on

Daily Mirror

Katie Price has declared there is “no going back” with her new husband Lee Andrews after she got his name tattooed onto her ring finger shortly after insisting he’s ‘not a conman’

Katie Price has declared that “there’s no going back now” as she got a tattoo to honour her new husband. The ex-glamour model, 47, tied the knot with Lee Andrews just days after she met him earlier this year and has now made her love into a permanent statement by getting inked.

Advertisement

In yet another update on the situation, the former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! star, who has now married for the fourth time, revealed that Lee’s name had been tattooed on the back of her hand just below the knuckle, on her ring finger.

She said: “What’s going on now is that I’m a married woman – I am having Lee on my wedding finger. Call me crazy, call me what you want. I thought it would hurt but it actually doesn’t. There is no going back now is there?!”

READ MORE: Katie Price’s ex makes heartbreaking ‘hell and back’ confession after scathing commentsREAD MORE: Katie Price’s furious defence of husband Lee Andrews as she speaks out on quickie wedding

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

It also seemed as if she had undergone another tattoo procedure, as she shared a second video that featured herself wrapped in a bandage and cling film.

It all comes just hours after it emerged that there was no prenup signed ahead of the wedding. Katie then spoke out, insisting that while she can understand why her family may be concerned, she should be able to make her own decisions.

Advertisement

She told The Sun: “Of course my family are going to worry, I wouldn’t expect anything different. They love me and they’ve seen me go through so much heartache, and the most horrific times.”

“So I don’t blame them for being p***ed off and angry. They love me and I love them too. But I’m not a kid any more, I am 47, I can make my own choices, and I will. They have to give me that chance to go and find out for myself. You just got to let me be me; my life isn’t normal. There’s no textbook to any of this. Just let me enjoy the moment and enjoy my relationship

The former Page 3 star recently at claims that her latest husband is a “conman” after various exes came out of the woodwork claiming he had proposed to them in the same way.

She insisted to The Sun: “I’m not stupid. I’ve learned now that I don’t need a man. I always used to need a man in my life whereas now I don’t need a man, I just want one.

Advertisement

“So yes, I can reassure everyone at home that I haven’t gone for a con man. I haven’t gone for a scammer. There was no love bombing.”

But fitness guru, Alana Percival, claims the businessman proposed to her in exactly the same way as he did with Katie just four months earlier.

Taking to social media, posing on a beach, Alana wrote: “Catching flights not fiancés – lucky escape. Somebody with your ex right now thinking they found The One,” while tagging Katie in the post. Alana added: “More to come today’s news is just a warm up.”

“You guys wanted to know what he is all about? Well let me start to tell you.” She then concluded with the hashtag ‘Run for the hills’. Alana then followed up with an Instagram post as she slammed Lee for his behaviour during their brief relationship.

Advertisement

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

How to understand the post-Gorton and Denton national poll that puts the Greens ahead of Labour

Published

on

How to understand the post-Gorton and Denton national poll that puts the Greens ahead of Labour

Polling by YouGov suggests a surge in support for the Green party across the country following the Gorton and Denton byelection. According to the poll, Zack Polanski’s party now has a national vote share of 21%, leapfrogging the Labour party. The Greens now sit within the margin of error behind Reform’s 23%.

In light of this result, some have claimed that the Green party’s byelection victory has boosted its national polling by making it look like a party that can win in an election. This is a version of what is known among political scientists as the bandwagon effect. The idea is that voters jump on the bandwagon of parties that are very popular with other voters.

But it’s not necessarily the case that voters are now thinking of going Green just because the Greens won in the byelection. Coverage of byelection results has a longstanding tendency to focus too much on which party wins and not enough on trends in vote shares.

Hannah Spencer won the seat for the Greens on a share of the vote fully 28 percentage points higher than her predecessor managed in 2024. Changes in vote shares like this matter because they can give some insight into the scale and direction of shifts in the standing of parties across the country as a whole.

Advertisement

This is true regardless of whether such trends tip a party over the threshold required to win the seat. In other words, had the Greens won Gorton and Denton by a narrow margin, as constituency polling late in the campaign suggested they might, that would not have been quite so seismic a result. What has shaken British politics is that the Greens did so much better than they did in 2024, that they did so much better than Labour – and so much better than expected.

The effects of these two related factors – the victory and the swing – cannot be teased apart. The win itself is not necessarily what has motivated voters to jump on the bandwagon in subsequent polling. It could just as plausibly be the Greens’ improving electoral performance that is doing the important work.

The striking and substantial surge in support in the byelection may be inspiring voters across the country to go Green. That surge just happened to also propel them to victory in the byelection.

Indeed, decades of research on the bandwagon effect has struggled to find any consistent evidence that voters flock to the most popular party or the “winner”. But some evidence suggests that when parties become more popular, regardless of whether that growth propels them into first place, this growth can become self-perpetuating as more voters jump on the bandwagon.

Advertisement

Why this matters

This distinction matters because it can shape the story we tell about why the effect is happening. If we focus on the Greens’ victory as the most important factor driving their subsequent poll boost, we will tend to tell a story about viability: the Greens won this election, so they could win others, and that makes people want to back them.

If instead we focus on the Greens’ growth, we uncover a story about momentum: the Greens have gained ground, so they could gain more ground, and that makes people want to get involved.

Of course, viability and momentum are related. For one thing, we know from primary campaigns in the US that smaller election victories can be seen as generating a kind of momentum that boosts perceptions of viability in bigger elections. For another, my research has shown that when a party’s vote share increases, even if it doesn’t move into first place, this momentum raises expectations of its chances of winning a future election.

Focus on the swing, not just the win.
Alamy

These findings suggest something important. Even if voters are now flocking to the Greens because they see the party as viable, that does not mean the byelection victory alone is driving them to jump on the bandwagon. The party’s growth, separate from the victory that growth brought about, also probably matters for these perceptions of viability – and, therefore, helps explain why people are now jumping on the bandwagon in subsequent polling.

Advertisement

What also matters is the way the Green party’s victory is being covered. Voters do not learn about the election result in a vacuum; it is always presented with interpretation. And many of those interpretations are focusing on what the victory means for the Greens’ viability. This understandably superlative coverage of the byelection result contributes significantly to the perception that the party is becoming a viable electoral force.

Indeed, it has long been argued that numerical data representing parties’ performance alone is probably insufficient to produce a bandwagon effect, and that any such effect probably relies on the interpretation of what the results mean. If perceived viability drives people to vote Green, then it is largely the media’s insistence on that viability that is causing this movement.

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

NewsBeat

Planned capacity at Motherwell school set to increase

Published

on

The Daily Record

The council’s education committee approved a proposal to increase the planned capacity for placing requests at Dalziel High School to 80 per cent rather than the current level of 75 per cent.

North Lanarkshire Council is updating its policies on school admissions, including a formal change to rules for placing requests at a secondary school in Motherwell.

Advertisement

The council’s education committee approved a proposal to increase the planned capacity for placing requests at Dalziel High School to 80 per cent rather than the current level of 75 per cent.

Temporary allocation of pupils to Dalziel High School has historically operated on the basis of 75 per cent of its total capacity of 1,207 pupils, or 905. However this figure is to be increased to 80 per cent to allow more placing requests to be granted.

In fact, high demand for places at Dalziel mean the school has been operating at this level for some years, although this is now formally approved in council policy.

The committee also agreed to hold consultations on a new school admissions policy and a report on exclusion and appeal procedures is to be presented to a future meeting.

Advertisement

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

READ MORE: New series from Coatbridge comic book king Mark Millar is filled with local place names

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2025