Donald Trump has congratulated John Swinney on winning power once again following a crushing SNP defeat of Labour in Scotland.

In what could be seen as a thinly veiled attack on Sir Keir Starmer, the US president praised the SNP leader as a “good man” who “deserves this big electoral victory”.

John Swinney’s party took 58 seats, falling short of the 65 needed to win an overall majority, but are by far the largest party in Scottish parliament after Labour and Reform UK both emerged with just 17 seats.

Hours after the result was announced, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Congratulations to John Swinney on winning his Re-Election for First Minister of Scotland. He is a good man, who worked very hard, along with the King and Queen of the United Kingdom, with respect to Tariff relief for Great Scottish Whiskey – and deserves this Big Electoral Victory!”

The post backs up Mr Swinney’s claim that he worked to deliver the removal of US tariffs on Scottish whiskey, which was announced shortly after the King’s state visit.

The SNP leader was forced to release a thank you text he received from Mr Trump after he was initially mocked on social media for the claim.

The US president’s social media post could perhaps be seen as a swipe at the prime minister, who has suffered from worsening relations with Mr Trump in recent months.

The pair continue to be at odds with each other over the president’s approach to war in the Middle East, with Mr Trump calling Sir Keir “no Winston Churchill” earlier this year.

Sir Keir has faced calls to resign after the disastrous set of elections in Scotland, Wales and local councils across England.

But the prime minister has insisted he “will not walk away” and has vowed to fight on as Labour leader, despite being blamed for losing hundreds of councillors in England and a major humiliation in Wales.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar admitted his party was “hurting” after the result in Scotland.

Asked if he blamed Sir Keir Starmer for the results on Friday, Mr Sarwar said: “Throughout this election campaign, I have tried to make this election about Scotland, I’m not going to change that today.

“Is there a national wave, though, that we tried to overcome and failed to do so? Yes.”

Labour haemorrhaged support in former strongholds while Reform UK made stunning gains and Plaid Cymru became the largest party in a Senedd election that left outgoing First Minister Eluned Morgan without a seat.

The results have reignited rumblings of a leadership contest, with some backbench MPs openly calling on Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure and others urging an immediate change in direction.

Richard Burgon, leader of the Socialist Campaign Group of left-wing Labour MPs, demanded Sir Keir set out a timetable for his departure.

“It is clear that Keir has fought his last election as Labour leader and, deep down, he will know it,” he said.

But Sir Keir has defiantly vowed to stand firm as prime minister, with some ministers also insisting there will be no attempt to push him out.

Speaking as the results came in on Friday, Sir Keir vowed: “I’m not going to walk away and plunge the country into chaos.”

Buses will replace all Northern services from Sheffield to York across the weekend, due to planned engineering work between Sheffield, Bolton-Upon-Dearne and Wakefield Westgate.

It comes as Network Rail carries out essential work to renew switches and crossings in the area.

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A spokesperson for National Rail said that the work would ensure it could deliver “more reliable” journeys for passenger and freight trains in the years ahead.

CrossCountry trains will continue to operate between the two cities as normal.

Speaking about this, a representative from National Rail said: “This planned engineering work will close some lines on Saturday (May 9) and Sunday (May 10).

“If you are planning to travel between Sheffield and York on Northern services, you can complete your journey on rail replacement buses.

“CrossCountry and Northern services between Sheffield and Leeds will have their timetables re-timed.

“If you’re travelling on a rail replacement bus, you can use the rail replacement services page on the National Rail website for advice with your journey.”

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said crews were alerted at around 7.20pm on May 8 to reports of one person on top of a property on Knowsley Street.

A GMFRS spokesperson said: “Two fire engines and a turntable ladder from Bolton Central Community Fire Station attended, along with the Enhanced Rescue Unit from Ashton-under-Lyne.

“Crews used the turntable ladder to safely rescue the person from the roof and bring them back down to ground level.”

Firefighters were seen outside McDonald’s on Knowsley Street as they worked to bring the situation under control.

They remained at the scene for around 45 minutes before rescuing the person and bringing them back down.

No further details have been released.

The man got out a lighter, lifted a petrol nozzle from a pump and ignited the flame after staff refused to serve him

A man threatened to burn down a Cambridge filling station after staff refused to serve him. Mark Guy, 47, walked up to the Shell filling station in Cambridge on the evening of January 10, 2024, despite previously being banned.

When staff refused to serve him, he immediately became agitated. According to Cambridgeshire Police, Guy walked out to the forecourt where he got out a lighter, lifted a petrol nozzle from the pump and ignited the flame, threatening to “burn the place up”.

The 47-year-old left after a member of staff called police, but he was later identified and arrested when he returned to the filling station in April of that year.

On Thursday, April 30, Guy, of Monkswell, Trumpington, Cambridge, was jailed for one year and three months after pleading guilty to attempted arson at Peterborough Crown Court.

DC Lara Wycherley, who investigated, said: “Guy could not accept he had been banned from the filling station, and quickly became aggressive and threatening towards staff who were just trying to do their job.

“Thankfully no-one was harmed, but Guy is very lucky that his reckless actions didn’t end differently.”

Seren Lowri Smith was found unresponsive on the floor of her home

A 23-year-old woman died of a cocaine overdose. Seren Lowri Smith was found unresponsive late on the night of August 29 last year on the floor at her home, Gwent coroner’s court heard.

Ms Smith, of Blackwood in Caerphilly county, had been taking the Class A drug recreationally and died as a result of its toxic effects, said coroner Rose Farmer.

Paramedics provided advanced life support and took Ms Smith to Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, where resuscitation attempts continued, but those efforts failed and death was confirmed at 2.10am on August 30.

Ms Farmer said: “Seren had started using drugs recreationally. There is no evidence to suggest that Seren took cocaine with the intention of ending her life.”

The coroner recorded a conclusion of drug-related death and expressed her condolences to Ms Smith’s family.

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Now, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued some advice as the season for ticks begins to boom.

A spokesperson said: “There is ongoing advice to people on our social channels about being tick aware.

“The tick season in the UK generally peaks from March to October, with peak activity often occurring between April and July.”

How to prevent ticks

Ticks can be prevented by:

• Wearing long trousers, long sleeved shirt and shoes
• Wearing a hat and tuck in hair
• Using an insect repellent (preferably containing the active ingredient DEET)
• Checking skin, hair and warm skin folds (especially the neck and scalp of children) for ticks, after a day out
• Checking for ticks and removing any from your pets/ clothing/ outdoor gear
• Removing any ticks and consulting with a GP if symptoms develop.

Professor Mary Horgan, Chief Medical Officer, said: “Ticks are found right across Ireland and most people who are bitten do not become ill.

“Lyme disease can occasionally cause serious health problems if not diagnosed and treated early so awareness is key.

“People should know where ticks are commonly found, check their skin after spending time outdoors, and seek medical advice promptly if they develop symptoms such as a rash spreading outward from a bite site or flu-like symptoms following a tick bite.”

How to remove an attached tick

1. If you find an attached tick, remove it by gently gripping it as close to the skin as possible using a pair of fine tipped tweezers or tick removal tool
2. Pull steadily away from the skin without twisting or crushing the tick
3. Wash your skin with warm water and soap afterwards, and apply an antiseptic cream to the skin around the bite
4. Do not use a lit cigarette end, a match head, or substances such as alcohol or petroleum jelly to force the tick out.

Symptoms of tick bites

In some cases, tick bites may cause:

• swelling
• itchiness
• blistering
• bruising

Tick bites aren’t usually painful but they may cause a red lump to develop where you were bitten.

Many pharmacies and outdoor stores sell tick removal devices. These are useful if you often spend time in areas where there are ticks.

If the tick’s mouthparts break off in the skin and can’t be removed, this may cause irritation but they they should fall out naturally in time.

Do not use a cigarette end, match head, alcohol or petroleum jelly on a tick.