Steven James Carter, 45, died in December 2025.

An inquest into his death took place this week, which heard loving tributes from his sister and mother.

Steven’s sister Helen said: “Steven was a fun-loving, outgoing character with many friends.

Steven Carter with the Walking Society (Image: Colin Liptrot)

“He was like a father to my son and close to my daughters.

“There was nothing he couldn’t fix or explain – he lived life on his own terms with a big heart.”

The mum and daughter spoke about how he was an active man who enjoyed many hobbies, such as walking and running, and riding motorcycles.

“He also loved pie and curries!” said his mother, Lynda.

Steven, from Lovat Road, Breightmet, grew up and lived in the borough.

He studied motorbike design and engineering at Kingston-on-Thames University – the only course of its kind in the country.

Steven enjoying a Cornish pasty (Image: Colin Liptrot)

This was a passion of Steven’s, his family said.

Steven’s mother, Lynda, said: “He was sociable and had friends of long-standing that he enjoyed going out with.

“He loved walking and camping and spending time with his friends.”

Though he enjoyed a drink with his friends in his earlier years, Steven was not a big drinker at the time of his death, nor was he a smoker.

The inquest ruled Steven’s death to be caused by suicide.

Police said a note had been left, and his key had been left in the outside of his door.

Steven Carter (Image: Colin Liptrot)

Detective Sergeant Wilcox, who was on the scene, said she believed this was done intentionally to allow people into his house after his passing.

Sgt Wilcox concluded: “It is just very, very sad – I’m very sorry.”

Steven had struggled with his mental health for many years, the inquest heard, and isolated himself from friends and family in the months leading up to his death.

His sister stated she believes this was done with the intention of making his death easier on them, again demonstrating his caring attitude.

Coroner Peter Sigee said: “I know that you and everyone else did all you could for Steven – even though it was a one way street, you continued trying to get through to him.”

Steven’s sister Helen offered more kind words in his memory: “He was an amazing person and he really looked after my kids.

“He was big onto motorbikes and motocross – he helped get my son into it all as well.”

Steve was well-known for being good with his hands – he could ‘fix anything’, Helen told me.

“He had a big, old blue bus that he was fixing up,” she said “he was transforming it into a camper van – he lived in it for a bit after he finished uni.

“He just had a heart of gold, and he loved my mother to death.

“None of his friends would give up on him – these were friends he’d had since he was four years old, in some cases.

Steven was one of the founding members of the Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society alongside director Colin Liptrot.

Steven atop a mountain (Image: Colin Liptrot)

“He was a really great guy and was instrumental in the early days of the walking group, Bolton Walking and Outdoors Appreciation Society,” said Colin.

“The group was founded in 2011 by a group of likeminded friends who enjoyed walking, camping, nature and the outdoors, and wanted to set up a means of improving our own lifestyle and that other people could get involved with.”

“It wasn’t long before Steve got wind of this through mutual friends and was keen to get involved.

“From there, he was instrumental in helping to organise trips to the Lake District, North Wales, the Peak District and Scotland, as well as lots of week night walks around our local area in the West Pennine Moors.

“We all shared lots of exciting adventures together, walking locally and around the hills and mountains of the UK, plus tons of camping and hostel trips.

“Steve had a real larger than life personality. He definitely livened up a room when he walked in and there would always be banter and funny antics on any of the trips, that everybody else found hilarious. He had a pretty wicked sense of humour, and was also very kind hearted and always made sure everybody else was having a great time on walks or around the campfire.

Steven mid-walk (Image: Colin Liptrot)

“He was also inseparable from his lovely Manchester Terrier, Lil, who was as much a part of the walking group as any other member. She definitely climbed a lot of mountains and did a lot of miles in her time and loved keeping us all moving along as a group.

“The legacy of everything that Steve helped to set up is still going strong.

“Bolton Walking and Outdoor Appreciation Society doesn’t have a membership subscription, but we have a pool of around three hundred “regulars” from all over Bolton, Preston, Blackburn, Wigan and Salford who continue to get together and enjoy walking in the outdoors together. Things are a little more organised now with insurance in place and a committee to run everything, but the ethos of BWOAS is still very much in line with what Steven and the rest of us wanted to achieve originally, and so many people have managed to find a safe way to get out and exercise, meet positive people or improve their mental health through joining the outings.

“I am absolutely sure that Steve would be proud of this fact. We miss him a lot but can be thankful of all the great times we shared together and the memories that we can look back on fondly, or laugh about in a lot of cases.”

Hello, and welcome to WalesOnline’s live blog for Saturday, May 2. We’ll be bringing you all of the latest news from across Wales – whether you’re on the move, at home or at work – as well as the latest traffic and travel.

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It’s been a focal point of a south east London community for decades.

But the Leegate centre in Lewisham, once described as the ‘Westfield of the 1960s’, is making way for a high rise flat development with 500 homes.

For generations, it served the needs of the community with former high street giants like Woolworths and Boots attracting tens of thousands shoppers every week.

Lewisham natives spoke with fondness of the Leegate which was seen as a community hub in an area seen as poor relation to the nearby affluent Blackheath.

It was officially opened in 1963 to fanfare and was seen as modern for its time with extensive car parking and cafes alongside shops selling everything a family could need.

However, by the 2000s, the centre was a pale shadow of its former self. The building was crumbling and retail units were empty.

The bulldozers have now moved in and the only remnant of the Leegate is the car park sign.

The rumble of heavy machinery fills the air where there used to be the hum of the hustle and bustle of an often busy shopping centre at the heart of the community in Lee.

However in recent years the site has fallen into disrepair after the remaining few shops closed.

Share your high street memories at webnews@metro.co.uk

The future is a mixed use development by London Square with 500 homes and a 17-storey tower with commercial space and a new public square.

There will also be a health centre and a supermarket.

People in Lee told Metro that the centre in its heyday had been a fixture in their lives but since its ‘golden era’ it had become a pale shadow of its former self.

They compared the centre when it opened to Westfield, the current destination shopping malls based in Stratford to the east and Shepherd’s Bush in the west.

‘We’re relieved the area is getting a lift’

Peter Elliott, 75,who has run a garage in Lee for more than 30 years, said the Leegate had been the heart beat of the community until it became outdated and scruffy.

He told Metro: ‘When it opened it was gleaming and had everything, there was Woolworths, Boots, the lot. In a way it was the Westfield shopping centre of its day.

‘You could park your car and have a lovely afternoon shopping. It really was a great experience.

‘Even in later times when the Wetherspoon opened there it was lively and locals had somewhere to go. In all honesty in later years it did start to get tired.

‘It’s such a shame but times change and hopefully this new development will give the area a lift. The businesses around here are struggling and it’s a bit downtrodden.

‘It’s a strange feeling. It’s upsetting the Leegate is no more but we are relieved the area is getting a lift.’

‘I remember buying my first CD in Woolworths‘

Karen Howlett, 44, a mum-of-two, said: ‘The Leegate was part of life here. I remember buying my first CD in Woolworths. We were always in there it was a big part of our life.

‘As kids we would hang out there we really miss it. I just hope that what replaces it has some heart and soul because the old Leegate had bags of it.’

Carmen Estebao, 51, said: ‘The Leegate had everything we needed. There was a Boots a Woolworths and an Iceland for a cheap food shop in the days before people were critical of frozen foods.

‘I always bumped into neighbours and friends there. There really was a community spirit. But the new development looks good and we have to move on. The worst thing has been having the site empty and dragging the life out of the area. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.

‘It’s an eyesore but new people moving in will boost the local economy’

Tom Cronin, 28, said: ‘I’m too young to remember the shopping centre but the site has been an eyesore. We have a great little area here with quick trains into the centre of London.

‘This development may mean gentrification but that shouldn’t be a dirty word. The local cafes and pubs struggle, all these new people moving in will boost the local economy.’

The developer London Square has promised to transform the site into a ‘vibrant town centre’ using its excellent train links to central London to attract commuters.

Chief executive Adam Lawrence said: ‘The Leegate centre site has long been a symbol of missed opportunity, but this scheme will be a real turning point for Lee Green.

‘Our development will transform a run down, derelict site into a vibrant local centre, delivering homes, significant affordable housing and new community infrastructure.

‘Just as importantly, it will restore activity, confidence and investment to an area that has been overlooked too long.’

The previous owner of the site St Mowden applied to develop the site in 2012 but the plans hit the buffers due to market conditions leaving the Leegate in limbo.

London Square has increased the percentage of social housing in the scheme from 36 and 46. The company has received planning permission from Lewisham Council for the news scheme.

Lawrence added: ‘This is exactly the kind of stalled site London Square has a strong record of unlocking. We are now ready to start work on the site.’

Park Mall in Ashford, Kent, is also facing a similar fate.

Diggers have moved in as part of a major residential redevelopment in the heart of the town.

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Kelly Brook has previously spoken out about her long-running feud with Ant and Dec which centred from her short-lived time as a judge on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent

Kelly Brook ended up in a feud with Britain’s Got Talent presenters Ant and Dec after her short-lived stint as a judge on the ITV talent show.

However, it appears minor when compared to the recent controversy the Geordie presenters have become embroiled in. A week ago, the duo hosted what many consider the most dramatic conclusion to a reality television programme ever, when the live final of I’m A Celebrity… South Africa erupted into turmoil with warring celebrities and participants departing amid the commotion.

Following former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas being declared champion of the ITV programme, Ant and Dec discussed the incident on their podcast, Hanging Out with Ant and Dec, with Ant characterising it as “a weird night of TV”.

While it was arguably the most contentious series to date, the television presenters have been involved in numerous other controversies, including a dispute with Kelly, who participated in the original version of I’m A Celebrity last year and features as a guest on James Martin’s Saturday Morning on May 2.

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The friction between the three dates back to 2009 when Kelly was appointed as a judge on the ITV talent programme, Britain’s Got Talent, the current series of which continues tonight (May 2) at 7pm, reports the Mirror.

Reports have consistently indicated that Ant and Dec were dissatisfied that Kelly, 46, had been recruited for the programme without their approval. Throughout the years, the three have exchanged subtle criticisms in interviews and autobiographies.

Last year, the trio were brought back together on ITV when Kelly became a participant on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and revisited the old grievance in a fresh interview. During the conversation, she discussed the origin of the supposed disagreement – which allegedly arose from her not knowing what Ant and Dec’s role was when she joined the BGT judging panel. While the pair have consistently maintained this account, Kelly has firmly disputed that this is accurate.

She summarised the circumstances in six words during her discussion with The Sun, stating: “There was no awkwardness at all. “

She went on: “Ant and Dec are the sweetest, and they were so excited that I was doing the show. I think they are really involved in the casting of it.”

She added: “They were really fun and supportive. I was so excited when I saw them for the first time – I was in a helicopter looking down at them. I actually got star-struck, even though I worked with them all those years ago. I’m a massive fan of the show, so it was surreal to suddenly be in there. Plus, Ant and Dec were the least of my worries – I was more concerned with snakes, spiders and the lack of food!”

Her version of events contrasts with that of the Geordie presenters. In 2010, the duo published their autobiography, Ooh! What a Lovely Pair: Our Story, in which they detailed their claims regarding Kelly.

Recalling Kelly’s first day alongside them on the BGT set, they stated: “Kelly looked nervous, so I told her it was going to be great fun and to just relax and enjoy it. She nodded, then looked at me and said, ‘And what do you do on the show?’

“I looked at Simon, who was sat next to me, he turned to Kelly and said, ‘Kelly, you have seen the show, haven’t you?’ To which she replied, ‘Yeah… well, bits’. I don’t want to sound like an egomaniac, but the last person who said, ‘And what do you do?’ was the Queen when I met her at the party for ITV’s fiftieth anniversary.”

The memoir also suggested that the duo were infuriated by show boss Simon Cowell’s decision to bring Kelly on board without consulting them beforehand. They wrote: “We had two questions: ‘Why is there a fourth judge?’ and ‘Why is it Kelly Brook?’ None of them could answer us.

“Obviously, as hosts of the show, we have to justify that kind of thing to the audience, and no one could give us a good reason why Kelly was on board. The simple answer was that Simon, without talking to anyone, had decided it was a good idea. We didn’t agree.”

Kelly had previously dismissed the controversy, suggesting she was largely indifferent to Ant and Dec’s opinions of her. She remarked in a previous interview: “There was nothing I could do in this country after Britain’s Got Talent. The people at ITV were telling me that I had upset Ant and Dec and that was it.

“I would love to have stayed on the show. I really felt it was working out. Ant and Dec had never been anything but pleasant to my face but, clearly, they didn’t want me on the show. Their egos are such that they were saying to themselves ‘How dare she think she can come on to our show?’, and since then they’ve been very vocal about their displeasure at me being there.”

Kelly Brook is on James Martin’s Saturday Morning on ITV1 on May 2 at 9.30am. Ant and Dec host Britain’s Got Talent on ITV1 on May 2 at 7pm

Twenty years after the first instalment catapulted Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt onto Hollywood’s A-List, The Devil Wears Prada is back with a second incarnation. The sequel reunites the pair with Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci for a fun, frothy – but not very devilish – time.

Set at Runway, a thinly veiled fictional version of Vogue magazine, much has changed in the world of journalism since the first film was released in 2006.

Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs has spent the intervening years becoming a “Serious Journalist”, with awards galore under her belt. In 2026’s precarious media landscape, though, her job is wiped out. She, somewhat miraculously, finds herself back at Runway as features editor, no longer a harried underling.

Delightfully, the gang is back together for part 2. The Devil Wears Prada’s mastery was always its actors, and the returning main cast are in fine form here. Andy (Hathaway) now has an assured confidence that was just budding in the first film.

The growth in her character is believable and realistic, and as an actor, Hathaway is edging towards greatness, one teary-eyed smile at a time. Andy’s elevated position at Runway allows the dynamic between her and her icy boss, Miranda Priestley (Meryl Streep), to shift.

Miranda de-fanged

Fun is poked at Miranda’s behaviour, which is now subject to HR rules and regulations. Where once she struck fear into the hearts of all she encountered, delivering caustic lines in a low sardonic murmur, Streep’s performance, while fuller and more rounded, de-fangs Miranda.

With disappointingly fewer barbs, she is less “devil”, delivering a more complex portrait of a successful woman struggling to keep a dying industry afloat. Much of the villainy is handed instead to Emily (Emily Blunt). All eye rolls and sharp edges, Blunt has a ball reprising the role that made her a star.

She is given more screen time in this instalment, with a love interest and a life outside of work. She is magnetic in every frame she inhabits, bringing comedy and deliciously over-the-top cattiness.

Stanley Tucci’s Nigel, a relic of the bygone days of print fashion journalism, radiates a warmth that grounds the film. His endless patience with the nonsensical behaviour of those around him, delivered with Tucci’s characteristic panache, steadies the ship when all threatens to spiral into parody.

In 2026, the romantic comedy is a lesser spotted animal in Hollywood compared to when the first film was released. This sequel recalls familiar tropes of the early noughties rom-com: pop music blaring over street scenes of characters speaking on phones, quick cuts between fashion shows and urban life, big cities rendered in gloriously lit night scenes.

The “rom” part of rom-com, though, could have been left in the past for this sequel. Patrick Brammall is criminally underused as Peter, a love interest for Andy. Their dalliance adds little to her character or the story, and never meaningfully develops or resolves.

Journalism SOS

Story-wise, it feels as though the film-makers wanted to comment on the state of journalism. In today’s world awash with algorithms, misinformation and the relentless churn of online content, there was certainly potential to mine, but these themes are mentioned and then glossed over.

This would be forgivable, given the sugary tone of the film, but consequently the drama becomes a little convoluted and at times gets in the way of the relationship dynamics, which is really why we are all in the cinema in the first place. Minor characters played by B.J. Novak, Kenneth Branagh, Lucy Liu and Justin Theroux often lean too far into caricature and disrupt the tone of the film. Their inclusion is another unnecessary dilution of the core four’s chemistry.

The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a little long and Meryl Streep’s performance lacks the bite that made the first film so memorable. But getting to see Hathaway, Streep, Blunt and Tucci work together again is joyful and escapist.

This film won’t change your life. But it is not trying to. It tells you exactly what it is in the marketing: a celebratory reunion of the actors and a fun retreading of familiar ground. Go for the characters, stay for the nostalgia.

Here is your round-up of cases heard before courts around Northern Ireland from April 27-30

Cases before Northern Ireland courts this past week included the sentencing of a former teacher for sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar school in Belfast.

Elsewhere, a North Belfast man was remanded in custody accused of causing a collision which caused the death of a teenager and left another child in a critical condition.

The courts also heard the case of a man who allegedly spied on a woman at Ulster University toilets.

Here is your latest round up of cases before the courts between Monday, April 27 and Friday, April 30.

Man accused of sexually abusing six-year-old who is friends with his own child

A 49-year-old man has been returned for trial in relation to the alleged sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl who is friends with his own child.

The accused, who is from Enniskillen but cannot be named at this time in order to protect the identity of the girl, is charged with causing a child to engage in sexual activity as well as indecently exposing his genitals.

Offending is alleged to have occurred on a date between 23 June and 8 September 2025.

Ex-teacher, 77, jailed for 1970s abuse of schoolgirls

A former teacher convicted by a jury of sexually abusing pupils at an all-girls grammar in Belfast was handed a two-year jail sentence on Tuesday.

The sentence was imposed upon William Lloyd-Lavery at Belfast Crown Court by Judge Patrick Lynch KC. The 77-year old, from Richmond Avenue in Lisburn, will also spend the next ten years on the Sex Offenders Register.

As he sent Lloyd-Lavery to jail, Judge Lynch said the four victims – who were sexually abused when they were aged around 13 – were “to be commended for coming forward to expose a paedophile.”

Drunk man avoids jail for attempted sexual assault of child on easyJet flight

A man who was convicted of multiple offences committed on a flight to Belfast, including the attempted sexual assault of a girl under 13, was handed a suspended prison sentence.

Imposing a four-month jail sentence on Ramiz Idrizi on Tuesday, District Judge Nigel Broderick said while the incident involving the young girl was “extremely serious,” nevertheless he was satisfied the sentences could be suspended for two years.

The PPS had applied for the imposition of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, arguing that the 38-year-old posed such a risk that an order was both necessary and proportionate.

‘We will all be un-alived, unless we wake up’ says man accused of 5G arsons

Two brothers already facing accusations of setting fire to 5G masts have been charged with further offences.

Giving evidence to Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday, a Detective Inspector revealed that “new evidence has been uncovered during the course of the investigation, that relates to similar offending around a number of 5G masts.”

Michael Clarke, 46, from the Monagh Road in the west of the city, is charged with two counts of arson of 5G masts, both alleged to have been committed on 1 June 2023, one at the Park Centre and another in the Owenvarragh area.

“You are a danger to the public”- Disqualified driver charged over crash death

A disqualified driver appeared in court in relation to a serious crash in which a man died last weekend.

The front seat passenger in the vehicle, Emmet Potter from Carrickmore, is believed to have died at the scene of the crash, which occurred on Derrycourtney Road, just outside the village of Caledon, on 25 April.

On Wednesday, Darren Peter Andrew Callaghan, 38, from Ballynahatty Road, Fintona, appeared in court charged with causing Mr Potter’s death by driving dangerously and while unfit through drink or drugs.

He is further accused of driving while disqualified, without insurance, fraudulent use of a vehicle registration mark and failing to wear a seatbelt.

Man allegedly spied on a woman at university toilets while peforming sex act

A man who allegedly spied on a woman at Ulster University toilets is to be barred from any further return to the Belfast campus, a High Court judge ordered on Wednesday.

Michael McNally is accused of peering over the top of a cubicle at her while performing a sexual act on himself. Mr Justice McAlinden granted bail to the 39-year-old after imposing a strict exclusion zone.

“It will encompass the main campus and accommodation blocks in that area,” he stressed.

McNally, of Cliftonpark Avenue in Belfast, faces a charge of voyeurism over an alleged incident in ladies toilets at the city centre university on December 2 last year.

Belfast man expresses ‘complete and utter regret’ after death of teen in crash

A North Belfast man appeared in court and was remanded in custody on Wednesday, accused of causing a collision which caused the death of a teenager and has left another child in a critical condition.

Appearing handcuffed in the dock of Limavady Magistrates Court, sitting in Coleraine, 29-year-old Tiernan McCann confirmed he understood the eight charges against him.

McCann, from Flax Street in Belfast, is charged with causing the death of Callum Hutchinson by driving dangerously and carelessly on the Belfast Road at Nutts Corner on 26 April this year.

The 29-year-old is also charged with causing grievous bodily injury to an 11-year-old boy, also by dangerous and careless driving.

Two soldiers ‘lost control’ in fatal shootings in Belfast, coroner finds

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Two soldiers “lost control” in the fatal shootings of five people in Belfast almost 54 years ago, a coroner has said.

The British Army soldiers did not use reasonable force in the shooting of a Catholic priest, a father-of-six and three teenagers in two areas of west Belfast on July 9 1972, the coroner ruled.

Mr Justice Scoffield said that Father Noel Fitzpatrick, 42, father-of-six Patrick Butler, 38, and teenagers David McCafferty and Margaret Gargan were unarmed and posed no risk when they were shot.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Summer is still a few months away, but the streets of Croatia’s old town of Dubrovnik are already teeming with tourists from all over the world. It’s usually a sign of a strong season ahead, but this year uncertainty hangs in the air.

Global instability triggered by the Iran war and surging fuel prices have brought unpredictability to the tourism industry, including in Dubrovnik, Croatia’s top Adriatic Sea destination that draws millions of visitors annually.

The stakes for Croatia’s economy are high: The tourism sector is one of the country’s key sources of income and is largely dependent on international travelers.

Though tourist numbers have been up in Dubrovnik, officials are warning nothing is guaranteed. The fuel crisis and Persian Gulf tensions could drive up airfares and slow arrivals just as the season gathers pace.

Miro Draskovic, director of the Dubrovnik Tourist Board, noted that while the American market remains strong, some Australian travelers — typically among the top 10 nations coming to the city — are now “facing difficulties traveling toward Europe.”

“The situation for sure is very, very difficult, and we are following what’s happening every day,” he told The Associated Press.

So far, things are looking good. Dubrovnik airport has recorded a 13% rise in visitors over Easter compared to the same period last year. Its bustling atmosphere and boats ferrying tourists around testify to the city’s lasting appeal.

The UNESCO-protected heritage city is known for its rich medieval history, seafront location and churches and palaces within its stone walls. Dubrovnik’s popularity soared after it served as a filming location for the hit TV series “Game of Thrones.”

Compared to other regions in the country, Dubrovnik could be harder hit if the fuel crisis deepens because of its location at the southern tip of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline. Around 80% of visitors come to Dubrovnik by plane.

Marina Ruso Mileusnic, a spokeswoman for the city’s airport, which is connected to some 70 airports around the world, said “we are very cautious about the upcoming season.”

Predictions for the weeks and months ahead have varied.

In early April, the head of the International Energy Agency Fatih Birol warned in an interview with the AP that Europe has just weeks of jet fuel supplies and could face the biggest energy crisis ever.

This week, however, European Union’s Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said there is “no actual evidence” of shortages in the 27-nation bloc as officials urged people to plan their holidays without fear.

Singapore businessman Ramon Padiernos agreed. The crisis in the Middle East meant he had to swap his favorite carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways for Turkish Airlines, but he still made it to Dubrovnik.

“We feel the impact maybe of oil prices but I think everybody just goes on with their lives and enjoy their holidays,” he said. “I think it is best for the world to see the lighter side of it, rather than focusing on the issues that we cannot control.”

Apart from impacts on tourism, the energy crisis has also contributed to a rise in inflation in Croatia to 5.8% in April, one of the highest in the EU.

The country recorded nearly 22 million tourist arrivals last year. Out of some 110 million overnight stays in 2025, Dubrovnik alone had 4.28 million, according to the national tourism board.

Draskovic said hopes are high that things soon will get back to normal. Until then, he said, “we can only work on day to day basis to get the best possible season we can.”

___

Jovana Gec contributed. to this report

“We are operating in a political ecosystem where attention is the most valuable currency, and attention is not won through careful, methodical argument alone.”

Sorcha Eastwood knows exactly what she is doing and, for the most part, it is working.

Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have seen the Alliance Lagan Valley MP cutting through the noise in the House of Commons with a series of pointed, emotionally charged interventions on the Peter Mandelson scandal. The clips have travelled far beyond Westminster’s usual audience, racking up views, shares and commentary at a pace most politicians can only envy. That reach has brought with it an unusual coalition of praise, from mainstream observers to figures on the political fringes such as Tommy Robinson and Fox News commentator T. J. McCormick. That alone should give pause for thought, but it should not obscure what is actually happening here.

Sorcha Eastwood’s performances in the chamber are, undeniably, performances. The clip that first caught widespread attention, where she declared herself “indignant” and “outraged” at the Prime Minister’s handling of the affair, was delivered with the kind of intensity that felt closer to political theatre than procedural scrutiny. It was reminiscent, in tone if not in context, of the firebrand style associated with Bernadette Devlin in her early parliamentary days. I do not make that comparison lightly as it speaks to a tradition in Northern Irish politics where rhetoric is used as a tool for disruption. The uncomfortable truth is that disruption is now the point.

We are operating in a political ecosystem where attention is the most valuable currency, and attention is not won through careful, methodical argument alone. It is won through sharp, emotive, easily digestible moments that can be clipped, shared and consumed in seconds. Sorcha Eastwood understands this better than most. The cadence, the phrasing, the controlled flashes of indignation are not incidental. They are calibrated for an audience that increasingly experiences politics not through Hansard, but through a phone screen. That does not make it dishonest. But it does make it different.

There is a tendency, particularly among more traditional observers, to dismiss this style as superficial or even cynical. At Stormont, Edwin Poots has already raised concerns about MLAs delivering what he describes as “pre-scripted” contributions designed primarily for social media rather than genuine debate. The implication is that something essential is being lost when political speech is shaped with the algorithm in mind.

He is not entirely wrong. There is a risk that substance becomes secondary to delivery, that complex issues are flattened into viral soundbites, and that the chamber itself becomes little more than a backdrop for content creation. But the critique often stops short of acknowledging a more fundamental shift as the audience has moved and politics has followed.

If you want a message to land now, it has to travel. And to travel, it has to engage. I have seen this dynamic play out first-hand. Clips of parliamentary contributions, many of them from Sorcha Eastwood, have reached hundreds of thousands of viewers within hours on my own TikTok account, which has a relatively modest following. That level of engagement would have been unthinkable a decade ago for a backbench intervention. It changes the incentives, it changes how politicians communicate, and, crucially, it changes who is actually listening. In that context, theatricality is undoubtedly a strategy.

The question, then, shifts from whether politicians should perform to how far that performance should go. There is a line which is often blurred between emphasis and exaggeration and between clarity and distortion. When rhetoric outpaces reality, when outrage is deployed as a default rather than a measured response, the credibility that underpins effective communication erodes.

Sorcha Eastwood, to her credit, has not crossed that line in any obvious or sustained way. Her interventions, while heightened, remain anchored in a recognisable political argument. They are forceful without being incoherent, which is key as once the performance becomes the story, rather than the issue at hand, the entire exercise risks collapsing into noise.

There is also a broader political implication that should not be ignored. The amplification of these clips, particularly when they attract endorsement from figures well outside the mainstream, can create strange and sometimes uncomfortable alignments. Praise from the likes of Tommy Robinson risks reframing the message, whether intentionally or not, and places the speaker in a wider ecosystem of interpretation that they do not fully control.

Yet, for all of that, the underlying reality remains stubbornly simple. Politics that does not cut through does not register. And politics that does not register cannot influence, cannot persuade, and ultimately cannot deliver.

So yes, Sorcha Eastwood is performing. But she is performing in the service of being heard. The real challenge is not to retreat from that reality, but to navigate it with discipline. Theatricality can open the door, but it cannot carry the argument on its own. At some point, beyond the social media virality, the substance still has to stand up.

If Sorcha Eastwood and others who follow this model can maintain that balance, then this evolution in political communication may prove not just inevitable, but effective. If they cannot, then what looks like a breakthrough risks becoming little more than a well-lit distraction.

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King Charles has officially launched the UK Space Agency’s Project Nova during his Bermuda visit – an initiative to install a global network of telescopes to help track space debris

The King will bring his visit to Bermuda to a close by officially launching the UK Space Agency’s (UKSA) Project Nova, an initiative aimed at tracking space debris.

Charles will visit the site of a new UKSA observatory on the island to learn about the project, which will oversee the installation of a global network of telescopes across five sites, helping to monitor old satellites, rocket stages and other objects orbiting the Earth.

On his final day in Bermuda, the King will also officially open the new Great Bay Coast Guard Station, where he will be briefed on the Royal Bermuda Regiment’s Coast Guard’s vital role in protecting the island’s territorial waters and preserving its marine environment. He will also get a first-hand look at two new pieces of cutting-edge technology being deployed by the regiment – unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles.

READ MORE: King Charles and Camilla’s heartfelt US farewell: ‘We leave a piece of our heart’READ MORE: Met Office warns 9 counties face thunderstorm risk this Bank Holiday weekend

Young people taking part in the Junior Leader programme will share their experiences of the scheme, and before departing, the King will present operational service medals to five regiment members in recognition of their dedication to protecting the island.

On Friday evening, the King attended a garden party, telling guests: “I am told to my amazement it is also the first time in Bermuda’s four-hundred-year history that the islands have received a reigning King.

“I am terribly sorry it has taken so long!”

The occasion was held at Government House, where the King has been residing throughout his three-day stay. The venue has been so recently refurbished that he remarked to guests that it still smells of fresh paint. Lifting a glass in honour of Bermuda at the garden party, the King declared: “I need hardly say that Bermuda, like all the Overseas Territories, is a most cherished and important member of the British family – with a friendship as solid as this so-called ‘Rock’.”

Follow our live blog for the latest updates on the King’s visit by clicking here.

Kai, now 29, was just 12 when his parents separated and he moved in with his father.

Around the same time, his father was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), leaving Kai to juggle school with increasing caring responsibilities.

From attending hospital appointments to helping with day‑to‑day care, much of the responsibility fell on him. “I grew up fast,” he recalls.

As his father’s health deteriorated, Kai became his full‑time carer. Then, months before his 18th birthday, his father died, leaving him alone and, because he was not named on the tenancy, without anywhere stable to stay. The loss forced him to handle grief, housing uncertainty and sudden independence with limited support.

Eventually, he was offered a place in a Centrepoint Independent Living Programme home, which caps rent at a third of a resident’s earnings and provides support to help young people manage money, maintain employment and sustain a tenancy. 

He recognises how challenging the decade since has been, including the loss of his father and the transition into living independently. Throughout, he has tried to rely on what he calls a “positive mental attitude”, focusing on accepting his circumstances and finding ways to move forward rather than dwelling on setbacks.

Kai says the early period of living in his one-bedroom flat was a major adjustment as he adapted to living on his own for the first time. Centrepoint provided practical support, including food vouchers, which he says made a significant difference in his first year.

Determined to build a future, he trained in security and CCTV through youth employment programmes and later secured work in building security.

At 26, he moved into his own home, a milestone he describes as life‑changing. Having a place of his own allowed him to focus on stability, routine and long-term plans.

Now Kai sits on Centrepoint’s lived experience advisory board, helping shape the charity’s support for homeless young people.

Reflecting on his journey, he says he has grown stronger and more resilient. “It’s not been easy, but I kept pushing forward. Pressure makes diamonds,” he says.

His story comes amid a wider housing crisis. Centrepoint’s 2024/25 Move On report shows more than 130,000 young people are on social housing waiting lists, and at the current rate it could take over six years to meet demand even if no new applications were made. 

Bradford Teens Premiere Self-Made Film Monster on the Big Screen

Eight Bradford teenagers saw their hard work come to life this week when their self-made short film, Monster, premiered to a local audience.

The film tells the story of how one action can ripple through a community, showing how negative experiences can spread – but also how a single positive choice can change everything. 

Over several weeks, the group learned practical skills in storytelling, teamwork, and film production and handled every aspect of filming themselves, writing the script, directing, acting and editing the final cut.

At one stage, the young filmmakers met Oscar-winning winning actor Daniel Day-Lewis and his son Ronan, who offered tips on crafting stories and making films.

The premiere also marked the completion of Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards for the eight participants. Three others are working towards Silver, with two more aiming to finish Bronze this year.

Matthew Sampson, Centrepoint’s Bradford operations manager, said the young people had shown creativity and determination throughout. The project was supported by Into Film, a charity that helps young people learn through film, and Pocket Projects, which guided the group through technical production skills.

“It’s exciting to see something we made on the big screen,” one participant said. “It shows that if you stick with it, you can make something real.”

For the teenagers, Monster was more than a film. The screening gave them a chance to share their story with family, friends, and the wider community- and see what they could achieve when they worked together.

Housing Shortages Leave Young People With Fewer Options, Data Shows

(Image: Centrepoint)

A new report from the charity Centrepoint, funded by Nationwide Building Society, highlights growing pressure on England’s housing system, with young people facing increasingly limited options in both social and private rented accommodation. 

“The report highlights how hard it has become for many young people to find somewhere they can truly call home.” Charlotte Kensett, Director of Social Impact and Customer Experience at Nationwide said, “By working closely with Centrepoint, we want to help young people find a place where they feel safe and where they can start to rebuild their lives with confidence.”

Social homes demand remains high relative to supply, with around 130,000 households on the housing register, although the shortfall between main duty and allocations has closed. One barrier is the lack of right-sized properties: just a quarter (24%) of homes are one bedroom, despite nearly half of young applicants needing this size.

“The government are making the right noises when it comes to prevention and support for people experiencing homelessness,” Ella Nuttal, Centrepoint’s Research Manager said, “but it’s increasing the level of housebuilding, including suitable social homes, that will transform things.”

Affordable private options are narrowing too. Alongside wider reporting of private landlords leaving the sector, the research found that the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation, often an affordable option, has fallen by 10% since 2019/20. 

Ella warns that, without more housebuilding, “Too many young people will continue facing homelessness and find themselves excluded from stable housing and the opportunity to move forward with their lives.” You can read the full report at https://centrepoint.org.uk/move 

Discrimination Leaving Young Renters Struggling for a Home

A new report from Centrepoint has found that young people across England are struggling to rent privately. Soaring rents costs have been well-documented in recent years – but the leading youth homelessness charity’s new report reveals young people felt discriminated against by landlords and letting agents when trying to access tenancies.

In a survey of young renters, one in three felt they experienced this sort of discrimination, with Employment status (37%) and ethnic or racial background (35%) reported as the main reasons.

“Young people should be able to take safe, stable housing for granted.” says Ella Nuttall, who led the research for Centrepoint “It’s the foundation for everything else in life. Without it, the risk of repeated homelessness, poor mental health, and long-term disadvantage increases.

The report urges government and councils to expand the supply of suitable social homes and improve access to private rentals for young people.