Terror police have been pictured arresting five men after a suspected car bomb plot against US forces at RAF Fairford.

The group was found with three vans – suspected to have contained bombs – and were filmed during their arrests as they sat shirtless while handcuffed, indicating officers may also have suspected they were wearing suicide vests.

RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire, is the US Air Force’s command outpost for operations from Europe and has been used for American strikes on Iranian missile sites that have been attacking ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

The base was the subject of a warning from Iran‘s Revolutionary Guard in July, with the regime warning Britain not to allow US bombers to fly from the base.

Counter-terrorism police are understood to be leading the investigation into the incident amid suspicions a potential attack may have been foiled, while experts are investigating the devices to understand whether they were viable explosives. 

Footage, taken by a resident of nearby Whelford at 2.10am today, shows the men in cuffs with a bright light shining in their faces, while another picture shows the three vans they are suspected to have used.

Residents were evacuated from the nearby Cotswolds countryside as armed police and the SAS swooped in while the Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team searched for more bombs.

A Government spokesman said Prime Minister Andy Burnham was being ‘kept updated’ from Liverpool, where the Labour Party conference is getting under way today. 

The men are suspected of using three vans, also seen in this morning’s footage as vehicle bombs and, because they were shirtless during their arrest, are suspected of wearing suicide vests

The group was rounded up and put in hadcuffs sat on the road as security bosses sent in Army bomb experts and the SAS to tackle the threat

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Armed police around the village of Whelford, near RAF Fairford this morning

The incident will raise fresh questions over the thorny decisions to be made on defence by Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Chancellor John Healey at the Budget next month.

Mr Burnham’s predecessor Keir Starmer initially refused to permit US bombers to use British bases after the outbreak of the Iran war in February, drawing the ire of President Donald Trump, who said the former Labour leader was ‘no Winston Churchill’.

Sir Keir soon relented and gave the US permission in March for the ‘specific and limited defensive purpose’ of destroying Iranian missiles ‘at source’.

RAF Fairford has reportedly been put on Delta alert, the highest threat level used by Washington’s Department of Defense.

Meanwhile security has been tightened at other US bases in the UK, with reports that RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk has been placed on Charlie alert, the second-highest threat level.

A Lakenheath spokesperson told the Daily Mail: ‘We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures are implemented or modified. 

‘Please be assured that the Tri-Base area (RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, and RAF Feltwell) remains vigilant and will take appropriate action to ensure the safety and security of US service members, US and UK civilians, contractors, and their families.’

The resident who pictured the group’s arrest told this publication: ‘I was asleep and was woken up by shouting coming from outside.

‘I couldn’t tell what was being shouted but as I got nearer the window, I could see the road was being lit up by blue flashing lights from police vehicles.

‘On one side of the road, officers had five men lined up. They all had their shirts removed.

‘They were instructed to sit down. They were patted down by the officers and then had their shoes and socks removed.

‘I think they must have been there for about half an hour. The suspects were then told to get up and were walked round the corner.

‘I lost sight of them after that but I presumed they were put in police vans and led away. This all happened just outside the perimeter of RAF Fairford.

‘The police are investigating three work vans parked a few hundred yards from my house. We’ve not been told much, we were just asked to evacuate our homes early this morning.’

Road blocks and armed police have been in place near the base in recent days and emergency vehicles are parked nearby.

A witness said armed police had blocked access to the base’s main gate and around 30 police cars, ambulances and fire engines were in the village of Fairford.

Earlier a vehicle, apparently a tractor, was pictured blocking a gate at the base.

Armed police at RAF Fairford this morning. Officers blocked entrances to the air base, which is operated by the US Air Force

Officers also evacuated nearby homes, with residents taken to a nearby leisure centre

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A B-1B Lancer bomber pictured at the air base, which has been used to mount US strikes against Iran since the US-led war began

Emergency services vehicles including fire engines descended on Whelford as the major incident was investigated

Counter-terror police are leading the investigation amid suspicion an active terror plot may have been foiled

Gloucestershire Police said earlier: ‘A number of properties are currently being evacuated in the Whelford area following the declaration of a major incident.

‘It follows the arrest of several men on suspicion of offences under the explosives act.

‘The Army’s specialist explosive ordnance disposal team are currently examining a number of vehicles. The local residents are being evacuated to a nearby leisure centre.

‘A cordon is currently in place but we’d like to reassure people that we believe this incident is contained.

‘We are working closely with our partners and are enacting the well-rehearsed plans we have in place.’

A US Air Force spokesman said: ‘The 501st Combat Support Wing and our fellow UK-based Wings remain vigilant and will take appropriate actions to ensure the safety and security of our US service members, civilians, contractors, and their families.

‘We constantly assess a variety of factors that determine what measures we institute or modify to protect our installations, our people and their families.’

A vehicle which appeared to be a tractor blocked a gate at RAF Fairford this morning

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said of the incident: ‘We can be reassured that this is being dealt with.’ 

In June, the US government said it would spend around $500million (£377million) on ‘expansion and military infrastructure’ at the base, understood to include a new hangar complex.

A month earlier the Royal International Air Tattoo, set to be held at the base in July, was cancelled after the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) said the ‘escalating geopolitical situation in the Middle East’ had required a ‘significant increase in real-world operational missions’ from RAF Fairford.

RAFCTE said both the Royal and US air forces needed to ‘maintain unrestricted, 24/7 operational readiness at the base’.

Shortly after the US and Israel began the war with Iran on February 28, roads surrounding RAF Fairford were closed in a bid to ‘address safety and access issues’.

Protective screens were mounted on the base’s perimeter fences in March to stop filming after it became popular with plane spotters when US bombers began arriving.

That month US military personnel at the base were pictured preparing explosives at the base as Washington intensified strikes on Iran.

“This is completely false. Do not fall for misinformation or react.”

A DUP MP has urged people “not to fall for misinformation” regarding “bands” and loyalists gathering at Drumcree.

Thousands of protesters have blocked the predominantly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown in a bid to prevent a contentious Orange Order parade passing.

A ruling by the Parades Commission adjudication body permitting the march from Drumcree Church was upheld in an “unprecedented” late-night sitting of the High Court in Belfast just a few hours earlier.

The Drumcree parade, which was associated with violent clashes during the Troubles, has been banned since 1998.

Protesters, many of them wearing balaclavas, clustered in large groups in heavy rain along the road on Sunday morning – a move that delayed the scheduled 8am start of the parade. Sinn Féin leaders were among those gathered on the road.

Posting on social media, DUP MP Carla Lockhart said she has been “made aware of false information” stating that “bands and loyalists are converging” in response to the blockade on the Garvaghy Road.

She added: “This is completely false. We believe this is deliberate misinformation being pushed by nefarious Republican sources in an attempt to goad young people into a confrontation.

“Do not fall for misinformation or react. The law is on our side and we are upholding it peacefully.

“We are still standing with the 35 brethren for a peaceful resolution and upholding of the determination for Portadown Orange District LOL 1 to complete their parade.”

First Minister, and Sinn Féin vice-president, Michelle O’Neill said the reignition of the Drumcree dispute “brings into question how this whole peace process works”.

Party president Mary Lou McDonald called on Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant to intervene to ban the parade. She said the people of the Garvaghy Road would “not be drawn back to the past”.

The group of Orangemen due to take part in the parade waited at nearby Drumcree Church, having assembled early on Sunday.

Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Jon Boutcher appealed to “those with influence to encourage people to comply with the law” as he his officers would detect any offences throughout the day.

He added: “It is incumbent on us all to come together at times like this to do all we can to preserve a peaceful Northern Ireland.”

Follow our live blog for the latest updates on this developing situation on Garvaghy Road.

Mirror Political Correspondent Sophie Huskisson here…

In an impassioned start to conference, TUC chief Paul Nowak has told attendees that UK workers must be educated on Reform’s programme of austerity – which he said would make former Tory Chancellor George Osborne look like a “big state socialist”.

In a Hope Not Hate panel on how to battle the Far Right, the TUC general secretary said that conversations on battling right-wing parties – such as Reform – must meet people where they are.

This means, for instance, informing them that Nigel Farage wants to scrap employment rights laws, which would directly impact them.

Mr Nowak tells the packed out room: “Those people who voted Reform in the last set of local elections and in elections in Wales and Scotland would have included large numbers of union members, and it is not my job to tell union members you voted the wrong way, or somehow you are racist or reactionary or thick because you voted for Reform.

“We’ve got to engage our members where they’re starting from, and that to me means actually talk to them about the issues that matter to them…What matters in your community? For us in workplaces, it’s talking to members about employment rights and decent rights at work…

“And sometimes these are difficult conversations, and we don’t start them off by saying: ‘Let’s have a conversation about tackling the far right.’ We have a conversation about the Employment Rights Act and what difference it will make. Oh, and by the way, Nigel Farage voted against the Employment Rights Act time and time again in the House of Commons.

“And by the way, his mate Donald Trump is slapping on tariffs on British jobs that have cost thousands of jobs in this country. And by the way, their programme of austerity would make George Osborne look like a big state socialist family, and what that would mean for our public services.”

He gets a hearty applause from the room when he finishes his speech.

Manchester United are reportedly mulling over a move for Barcelona and Spain left-back Alejandro Balde ahead of the January transfer window.

Keen to bring in greater support and competition for Luke Shaw, 31, the Red Devils had identified left-back as an area of focus at the start of the summer.

However, United chiefs made it clear strengthening their central midfield was the club’s number one priority in the wake of Casemiro’s departure, and Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba all arrived through the doors at the Theatre of Dreams.

Newcastle and England full-back Lewis Hall was understood to be on United’s radar right until the transfer deadline, but securing a deal for the 22-year-old was always going to be an uphill battle.

Hall went on to put pen to paper on a new long-term at St James’ Park and while a host of other left-backs were linked, Michael Carrick entered the new season with Shaw and Harry Amass as the only specialists in the position in his first-team squad.

Balde was among the left-backs mooted as a potential solution for United throughout the summer but according to Mundo Deportivo, the Spain international ‘didn’t even consider’ the prospect of leaving Barca.

Having been limited to a total of just 12 minutes this season, though, it’s claimed Balde may be forced think about whether or not he has a future with the reigning La Liga champions.

Joao Cancelo established himself as Barca’s first-choice left-back last term and La Masia academy product Xavi Espart has also overtaken Balde in the pecking order under Hansi Flick this season.

The report suggests Flick ‘has noticed a stagnation’ in Balde’s level of performance both in matches and on the training ground and United are ‘keeping a close eye’ on the situation ahead of the January window.

While a summer move was never realistic for Balde, the winter market is said to ‘present a moment that could change his perception of the future’, especially if the Spaniard’s playing time fails to increase under Flick.

Balde has two years remaining on his current contract at the Camp Nou.

Speaking earlier this month, Barca head coach Flick called on an ‘unhappy’ Balde to rise to the challenge and ‘bring out the best version’ of himself amid fierce competition for places in Catalonia.

‘We have five full-backs – two on the right and three on the left,’ the German told reporters.

‘Nobody expected Xavi Espart to play at this level. Balde needs to bring out his best version. He is already doing that in training.

‘[I understand] that the player is not happy, because he wants to play and isn’t getting minutes. He was key over the last two years.

‘Things change. There’s a different dynamic now, and we have to manage it.

‘He is doing well, and I am happy with him.

‘It’s not an easy situation, it’s a competition for a position.’

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Sir Chris Bryant said he wished “we weren’t in this position”, as an Orange Order parade is set to go ahead for the first time in decades in a predominantly nationalist area of Northern Ireland.

Speaking to the BBC, the Northern Ireland Secretary said: “I can imagine that lots of people didn’t sleep very well last night, not least because of course the court case was going on till very late into the night, till 2.30 in the morning.

“I know lots of people will be watching this very, very closely, including people who have long memories of things that happened 30 years ago, and people will be very nervous and anxious.

“So the number one thing I think is people should co-operate with the police. I want everything to pass off as calmly as is possible. I’m speaking to the police obviously on a regular basis throughout the day, and was last night as well, and so is my team.”

He added: “I wish we weren’t in this position. I wish we weren’t looking at relitigating things of the past. But the court decided that the adjudication, the determination of the Parades Commission stood. So it’s important that everybody abides by the law.”

Sir Chris later said he would be leaving Labour’s conference in Liverpool for Belfast on Sunday, telling the BBC: “I’m going to be going back to Belfast this afternoon. I was expecting to be doing things here, but I think most people would expect me to be in Belfast, and that’s where I’ll be.”

Fans have already been speculating about who could join the Gallagher brothers on the road for the 2027 tour.

It has not been confirmed yet who will be heading out on tour with them but one valuable member of the band most fans will be keen to see on the stage will be Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs.

Bonehead was unable to complete the full 2025 run as he pulled out of shows in Seoul, Tokyo, Melbourne and Sydney whilst he underwent cancer treatment. So, there would be plenty of unfinished business there should he wish to come back.

Looking back at the line-up for the 2025 tour, guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell could also make a return to the group. Alongside Bonehead, the trio walked the red carpet in London for the Oasis documentary and were in jovial spirits for the release of the film.

Touring drummer Joey Waronker, who has performed with the likes of R.E.M and Roger Waters, joined Oasis for their Live ’25 tour and went down well with fans for his ability to incorporate his sound into the band. He was also described as being ‘special’ by Liam at the time of the shows.

Whilst Joey has yet to confirm whether he’d be interested in joining Oasis next year, he is currently performing with Dragonflies and has shows later this year with the British rock group.

For the full list of speculated members that will perform on the tour, read here.

A mum is worried she made a huge mistake with her son’s name, as despite it being common, people mispronounce it so often that she thinks she’s ‘doomed’ her little boy for life

Naming a child isn’t as easy as it might seem, and one mum’s big mistake is leading her to rethink everything. One of the first choices you have to make when deciding on a name is whether you want to go with a timeless classic or something more unique. If you don’t already have a name picked out, that decision alone can be huge.

Going for a unique baby name can help make your child stand out, but some parents fear their little one could end up having to correct people on the spelling and pronunciation of their moniker. But one mum has claimed that even going with a traditional name can have the same issues, as she’s run into a big problem with her son’s name.

In a post on Reddit, the mum said she welcomed her son five months ago, and although she loved the name she and her husband gave him at the time of his birth, she now believes they have “doomed” him.

She revealed she named her baby boy Alistair, but for some reason, people have been unable to pronounce it correctly, with people getting it wrong “at least three times a week”.

The mum wants people to pronounce the name with a shortened end, like “Ali-stuh”, but where she lives in Australia, people keep saying it as it’s written, making the name “Ali-stair” and causing her to worry that she’s made a mistake.

She wrote in her post: “Have I doomed my son by naming him Alistair? We named our five-month-old son Alistair, thinking everyone would pronounce it ‘Alis-tuh’, but almost everyone we meet pronounces it ‘Ali-stair’.

“I get that it’s how it’s spelt, and it’s not super common where we live in Australia, but at least three times a week, when we meet someone new or go to appointments, we get the wrong pronunciation. My immediate family, including my mum, took weeks to wrap their heads around it, and even still mess it up sometimes.

“We thought it was the common way to say it, with the spelling that we also thought was most common. I’m worried now that I’ve saddled him with a name that he’ll have to correct for the rest of his life.”

Commenters on the post largely seemed to agree that the name, at least in Australia, should be pronounced “Ali-stair”, the way people in the mum’s life have been pronouncing it.

One person said: “I’m Australian. I’ve known a few people with this name and have only ever heard it pronounced Alice-stair. If you want it pronounced differently, perhaps you could change the spelling to Alister?”

Another added: “I’m a teacher in Melbourne; I have met quite a few Alistairs. Alis-Stair is more common, but Alis-tuh is not unusual. In my experience, Alis-tuh seems more popular with people who have the cultivated Aussie accent, and Alis-stair goes with the broad and general accents.”

The “Ali-stuh” pronunciation is far more common in the UK, particularly in Scotland, where the name originates from. That may be what led the mum to believe people would pronounce it “correctly” in her native Australia, but it seems that her only option is to change the way it’s spelt to avoid confusion.

Someone noted: “In the UK, and I would pronounce it your preferred way.”

Another added: “This is correct. Feel like I’m going mad reading these responses. This is the way to pronounce it, and every other way is just wrong.”

Can you change your child’s name in the UK?

In the UK, if a parent chooses to change their child’s name, they could do so within the first 12 months of their child’s original name being registered. Before a baby’s first birthday, their first name can be changed once on their birth certificate, as long as both parents listed on the certificate agree to the change.

However, if you wait longer and try to change your child’s name after their first birthday, you would need to go through a deed poll. This still requires the agreement of everyone with parental responsibility, and generally costs around £53.

Only the parents or legal guardians of a child can register to change their child’s name, and you’ll need your child’s birth certificate to start the process. You may also need documentation proving your marital or relationship status.

You can find out more information on the Gov.uk website.

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has apologised to Noah’s family for the “extra anguish” caused by the unauthorised access to his medical records and launched an “urgent” investigation

Ten NHS staff have been suspended or removed from duty following a data breach involving the medical records of three year old Noah Woods, it was confirmed on Sunday morning.

The East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has issued an apology to Noah’s family for the “extra anguish” caused by the unauthorised access and has launched an “urgent” investigation into the matter.

Dr Martin Mansfield, the trust’s deputy chief medical officer, stated that any unauthorised access to patient data was “completely unacceptable”.

A trust spokesperson confirmed that 10 members of staff had been “removed from active duty or suspended whilst investigations are concluded”, with disciplinary measures to follow if deemed necessary.

In a statement released on Sunday, Dr Mansfield said immediate action had been taken to secure Noah’s records and prevent any further access that was not for a legitimate clinical reason, reports Wales Online.

He added that the trust had referred the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and would continue to keep Noah’s family updated as the investigation progresses.

Noah disappeared from Brantham in Suffolk, on September 15, sparking a large-scale search involving at least 1,300 people.

His body was recovered the following day from nearby water by police divers.

His family described him as a “happy, cheeky, playful” boy who loved to laugh. His mother has appealed to other parents to “hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment”.

An inquest into Noah’s death opened on Friday in Ipswich and was told that the three-year-old had got out of a play area “through a gap in the fence”.

Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill described his death as a “very sad and tragic” one before opening and adjourning the inquest.

Ten NHS staff have been removed from duty or suspended after a data breach involving the medical records of three-year-old Noah Woods.

Launching an “urgent” investigation, Dr Martin Mansfield, deputy chief medical officer at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, said that any unauthorised access of patient data was “completely unacceptable”.

The trust has apologised to Noah’s family and said disciplinary action would be taken if needed.

A major search for Noah was carried out in the village of Brantham, Suffolk, after the child went missing on 15 September. His body was found the next day in nearby water by police divers.

A spokesperson for the trust said 10 employees had been “removed from active duty or suspended whilst investigations are concluded”.

In the statement issued on Sunday,, external Mansfield said of the data breach: “Immediate steps were also taken to secure the records and prevent further access that was not for a legitimate, clinical reason.

“We have reported the matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and we will continue to keep Noah’s family informed as our investigation progresses.”

At least 1,300 people helped in the search for Noah in the 24 hours before he was found.

A tribute issued by his family called him a “happy, cheeky, playful” boy who loved to laugh. His mother urged other parents to “hold their children a little tighter and cherish every moment”.

An inquest, which opened on Friday, heard that the three-year-old had left a play area “through a gap in the fence”.

Assistant coroner Jyoti Gill said it was a “very sad and tragic death” as she opened and adjourned the inquest in Ipswich.

Andy Burnham is facing a stormy Labour conference today with ministers clashing on migration and the Left accusing him of ‘ghosting’ them.

The PM is in Liverpool kicking off his first gathering since ousting Keir Starmer – but with mounting evidence that the same bitter infighting will blight his leadership.

Tensions have flared after Angela Rayner doubled down on her criticism of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s ‘un-British’ plans to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent residence in the UK. 

Ms Rayner insisted this morning that there were ‘no splits’ and pointed out that Mr Burnham wanted ministers to ‘do politics differently’ by speaking out. ‘We’re not having an argument about immigration, we’re having a conversation – a national conversation,’ she told Sky News.  

But the Housing Secretary’s intervention has been described by MPs as a ‘drive-by shooting’.

Meanwhile, Left-wingers have been openly sniping at Mr Burnham’s approach. Clive Lewis – once such a fervent ally suggested he could stand down so the former Manchester mayor could re-enter the Commons – said the PM had ‘left his allies behind’ on entering No10 and behaved ‘terribly’.

Veteran campaigner Neal Lawson, previously tipped to advise Mr Burnham in No10, accused him of ‘jettisoning’ plans for wealth taxes and rent controls, and downgrading a nationalisation push. 

The internal warring comes against an increasingly bleak backdrop for the Government, with the Middle East crisis wreaking havoc on the public finances.

Chancellor John Healey admitted in an interview today that he might need to act on fuel duty, which is scheduled to rise at a time when drivers are facing rocketing prices at the pumps. 

However, with markets alarmed at UK borrowing levels that would require him to find billions of pounds more from other tax rises or spending cuts – the latter of which would meet stern resistance from Labour MPs.

Ahead of his first Budget on October 28, Mr Healey also signalled he understands concerns about an exodus of rich individuals from the UK, saying he wanted people to stay to create jobs and wealth. 

In other developments at Labour conference today:

• Ms Rayner has announced local leaders will get stronger powers to seize empty and derelict homes so they can be brought back into use;
• Mr Burnham insisted he “won’t leave office’ without having ‘grasped this nettle’ of social care reform, after the death of his Alzheimer’s-hit father Roy; 
• Tories have warned that a new help to buy scheme offering state loans to first-time purchasers will heap more pressure on the country’s finances and only push up house prices;
• Speculation continues to swirl about a snap election despite Mr Burnham declaring the idea ‘dead’; 

Tensions have flared after Angela Rayner doubled down on her criticism of Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s ‘un-British’ plans to make it harder for migrants to gain permanent residence in the UK

Mr Burnham has made ‘hope again’ the slogan of his first Labour conference  

Ms Rayner fired the first shots of the civil war yesterday by insisting the proposed visa clampdown effectively ‘changed the goalposts’ for migrants already living in Britain, particularly those working in social care.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy then sided with the Home Secretary on Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday. She said Ms Mahmood was ‘taking great care… and she has the support of the Cabinet in doing so’.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘If Andy Burnham’s Cabinet are already at war with each other over small changes to the immigration system, how can they ever be trusted to stop the boats?’

In an interview with the Guardian ahead of conference, Mr Burnham insisted he could bring forward a radical reform agenda while maintaining the public finances.

He suggested the public would have ‘more respect for us if we go and grab something difficult … and say, ‘right, we’re going to do something here’, rather than constantly playing the political game before fixing the problems’.

He added: ‘It’s challenging, definitely, but there are still things that you can do. Always in politics, there are things that you can do. The question is sometimes, are you prepared to do them? Yeah, I am prepared to do them.’

In what could be the latest step to help households with the cost-of-living crisis, Mr Healey told the Sunday Times he was mulling over whether a planned fuel duty rise should go ahead.

‘I’m conscious of these pressures and I will take them into account when I make my Budget decisions,’ he said.

The Chancellor also gave a veiled hint that capital gains tax could rise at the Budget, saying it was currently the lowest of ‘any European G7 nation’. Cabinet colleagues Louise Haigh and Wes Streeting have backed such a move, but economists have warned it could backfire by driving out wealth creation.

Speaking on the Labour Left Podcast, Mr Lewis was asked whether Labour was on track for a ‘reset’.

The Norwich South MP replied: ‘I would say where we are at the moment: no.’

Mr Lewis said Mr Burnham’s admininstration was an ‘improvement’ but not ‘a government of all wings of the party’. 

‘The Left were firmly kept outside of it,’ he said.

He suggested Mr Burnham had been swept to the door of No10 by the Left, but then done a deal to take power without them. 

‘We’re kind of at the door banging: ‘Andy, are you coming back out?’ he said.

‘Is that a terrible thing? Yes, it is. He’s ghosted us. But at the end of the day, mission achieved. Starmer has gone.’

He added: ‘I might be crying into my soup in a couple of years’ time, bemoaning the fact of what we did, but at the moment there are options on the table for us.’

Writing in the Sunday Times, Mr Lawson said: ‘Of course, it’s only been two months, but there are grounds for concern. Ideas talked up on the summer’s march south, such as wealth taxes, rent control and the end of the MP whipping system, have been jettisoned. 

Ms Mahmood has been building Labour support for the crackdown on residency rules

‘Suddenly, instead of the public ownership of water, it looks like he might settle for another failed version of regulated public control we already have.

‘And the opportunity has already been missed for Burnham to put his personal stamp on perhaps the biggest circuit breaker of all, the shift to proportional representation. 

‘When it was debated in parliament earlier this month, he let the moment pass.’