James May has said he disagrees with 120 UK-based millionaires including Gary Lineker who have urged Andy Burnham to impose higher taxes on their wealth.

The group have claimed extra money raised from higher taxes on wealth could be used to reduce inequality, support public infrastructure and back small businesses.

A letter to the Prime Minister from the Patriotic Millionaires UK campaign group, says a 2 per cent tax on wealth over £10million could raise £24billion a year for the UK.

But former Top Gear presenter May has insisted he ‘already pays loads of tax’ and encouraged the wealthy to instead donate the extra 2 per cent to good causes.

When asked on LBC radio whether he agrees with the former Match of the Day host’s stance released in the ‘Proud to Pay’ letter yesterday, 63-year-old May said ‘No.’

Presenter Tom Swarbrick asked him why, and May responded: ‘I already pay loads of tax. Am I supposed to volunteer to pay some more?’ Swarbrick then pressed May, saying: ‘Well, you can do, of course. You can pay whatever you like to HMRC.’

And May told him: ‘You absolutely can. You could pay your whole income to HMRC if you like. And those people who say, I’d gladly, gladly pay an extra 2 per cent tax if it went to the homeless or military veterans or the disabled or whatever. There are plenty of people who will take that extra 2 per cent from you if you wish to donate it.’

Swarbrick asked him: ‘So you don’t feel that there is a patriotic argument for millionaires to pay more in tax, however that is defined or alighted upon? 

Gary Lineker is among 120 millionaires calling on Andy Burnham to impose higher taxes

And May replied: ‘I mean, wealthier people already pay more tax. The rate increases and it’s a greater absolute amount as well if you have more income. ‘

It comes as a Treasury minister declined to say whether Mr Burnham’s Government will heed the call for the higher tax.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds welcomed the offer, but said any announcement on tax policy would be made in the budget.

She would not be drawn into whether Mr Burnham will consider what the millionaires are asking for, telling Sky News: ‘Well, look, it’s day four of this new Government, and obviously any major tax changes would be announced at a budget.

‘I welcome the fact that people of good means are saying that they want to pay more. They can pay more. There is a link on gov.uk, but look, we have to look at tax policy in the round, and we only make major tax announcements at budgets.’

The letter from the Patriotic Millionaires UK group reads: ‘We want you to tax us. We can afford it. We’re not talking about higher taxes on those who get up and go to work for their income every day, but on the very richest whose income is derived from the wealth they hold.’

Lineker said: ‘Paying your fair share is a basic British value, but so many ordinary people are already paying more than they can afford.

‘Our richest people can do more and most want to. Our fantastic country deserves all of us to get behind it. I’m proud to stand with people across the UK who want to live in a more equal society.

‘To live up to our national values our new Government must raise taxes on extreme levels of wealth for a fairer, better, more hopeful Britain.’

Other signatories include crime writer Val McDermid, musician and songwriter Brian Eno, former chairman of Greggs Ian Gregg, economist and former City trader Gary Stevenson, and investor Julia Davies.

In addition to the wealth tax, Patriotic Millionaires also said reforms to capital gains tax could raise a further £12billion.

But Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said a wealth levy is not the answer to raising UK living standards.

She told reporters after a London speech: ‘On Gary Lineker, he’s very welcome to pay more tax. He can write a cheque to the Treasury. No one’s stopping him.

‘But right now, we are seeing the people who create jobs leaving the country… If we keep taxing the people who create the jobs, who generate the growth, we’re not going to have any taxes at all.’

She added that tax rises and ‘pennies here and there’ do not increase our standard of living, and that the focus should be on ‘backing business so that they can create jobs and create growth’.

Ms Davies, a member of Patriotic Millionaires, said: ‘We millionaires are here to be taxed more and we urge our new PM to grab this opportunity with both hands and tax our wealth. This is a fresh opportunity for our country.

‘A chance for the Prime Minister to help rebalance power, reduce the shocking levels of wealth inequality which intensifies the cost of living crisis, and raise much-needed revenue for our public services, improving life for everyone.’

Polling from the campaign group showed that 80 per cent of UK millionaires support a 2 per cent tax on wealth over £10 million.

‘As you decentralise political power, you should also disperse economic power,’ the open letter adds.

‘Extreme wealth sitting idle in the hands of a few can be put to work: reducing inequality, investing in sustainable jobs, strengthening hospitals, schools and social care, supporting entrepreneurs with the skills and infrastructure they need, and giving small businesses access to affordable finance.

‘Our wealth is our country’s secret weapon – let’s get serious about using it.’

May presented the BBC motoring show alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond from 2003 until 2015 and was known as ‘the other bloke from Top Gear’. 

He also earned the nickname ‘Captain Slow’ for his performances in challenges.

After leaving Top Gear, the presenting trio went on to make a new motoring show for Amazon Prime Video called The Grand Tour, which ran from 2016 to 2024.

Plans to stop remuneration payments to coastguard volunteers were recently dropped

The chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) faces a formal vote of no confidence following plans to stop remuneration payments to lifesaving volunteers.

The vote of no confidence comes following plans to stop paying volunteer coastguards were dropped.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) sought to move its coastguard rescue teams to an expenses-only volunteer model.

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Currently, coastguard rescue officers (CROs) are paid an hourly rate during callouts, but the MCA wanted to scrap those payments so it could classify them as volunteers.

However, the Government said the plans would be dropped after fears it could see swathes of officers stop working with the service.

Transport minister Keir Mather said he had listened to the views of coastguard rescue officers (CROs) and that a move to an expenses-only model would not go ahead.

It came after a Court of Appeal verdict saw the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) say it would move to a “revised volunteer model”, after a judge ruled against it over whether coastguard members are volunteers or paid workers.

They are officially volunteers but can claim about £11 an hour for callouts or training.

Mr Mather also refused to say he had confidence in the chief executive of the MCA, Virginia McVea, when given the opportunity to do so by shadow transport minister Jerome Mayhew. Mr Mather said he wanted to get any replacement system “right”.

Speaking in the Commons, he said: “We want to ensure that CROs are treated with dignity, with respect and they are empowered to carry out the incredible duties that they do.

“Having listened to the views and testimonies of CROs first hand, I can confirm that they move to the expenses-only volunteer model in September will not go ahead, and that current arrangements will remain in place.”

Now, in a letter to Lord Simon Stevens, Chair of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Board, GMB union’s coastguard members wrote to formally express their lack of confidence in the leadership of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency under Chief Executive Virginia McVea.

The coastguards also called on the board to undertake an independent review of the concerns, including:

• A perceived failure to adequately engage with and listen to the experiences and concerns of Coastguard Rescue Officers.
• Insufficient transparency in decision-making processes affecting frontline personnel.
• A culture in which legitimate concerns raised by Coastguard Rescue Officers are not addressed in a timely or meaningful manner.
• Decisions and policies that have negatively affected morale, recruitment, retention, and confidence within Coastguard Rescue Teams.
• Concerns regarding leadership accountability and responsiveness to issues raised by frontline operational personnel.

Nicola Savage, GMB National Officer, said: “These workers are the face of HM Coastguard in communities across the United Kingdom.

“They give their time, skills, and commitment to save lives across the country.

“But they need to feel backed to the hilt by the MCA and, under Ms McVea’s stewardship, they don’t.

“Given the farce of the remuneration payments, coastguards feel a fresh start is the only way to reinstate that trust.”

The North West Aqua Park will officially open at the Anderton Centre on August 3, offering visitors an inflatable obstacle course on Lower Rivington Reservoir.

The attraction features giant inflatables, slides, climbing walls, balance challenges and splash zones, with sessions supervised by qualified lifeguards.

Jason Pendlebury, CEO of The Anderton Centre, said: “We are incredibly excited to open the North West Aqua Park and welcome our first visitors on August 3.

“This has been a project that has involved a huge amount of planning, partnership working and commitment from many people, and we’re immensely proud to see it become a reality.”

The Aqua Park has been designed for families, friends, community groups and anyone looking for an outdoor challenge.

(Image: Public)

Every session includes a safety briefing, specialist equipment and trained staff, with organisers saying the attraction has been built to high safety standards.

Mr Pendlebury added: “We believe the Aqua Park will become one of the North West’s premier outdoor attractions, bringing new visitors to the area while encouraging people of all ages to get active, enjoy the outdoors and create lasting memories with family and friends.

“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to experience it for themselves.”

Bookings are now open ahead of the school summer holidays, with visitors encouraged to reserve a place in advance.

The Anderton Centre was originally set up as a charity and said income from the Aqua Park will help support its outdoor learning programmes for children, young people and community groups across the region.

The sessions last for an hour and are £20 per person. It is suitable for confident swimmers aged six and over.

The Anderton Centre offers outdoor adventures from kayaking to archery ­

It also provides outdoor residential activities for young people.

The centre has been providing schoolchildren with residential activities for more than 20 years.

She is best known for playing Maxine Peacock on Coronation Street, having appeared in the soap from 1995 to 2003 before being murdered by infamous serial killer Richard Hillman (Brian Capron).

She has also appeared in other TV shows such as The Blue Room and Mile High, and embarked on a brief singing career in the late 1990s.

Shaw, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, shared a short video on her Instagram account telling her followers the results of her ultrasound scans.

She said while lumps found on her right breast are cysts and not cancerous, the cancerous lesions on her left breast have not shrunk.

Unfortunately, the lesions have changed shape and have “not really shrunk in size.”

Tracy was in tears in her video, which was filmed outside after her latest appointment, as she told her followers that she knows surgeons “can’t operate until they shrink it.”

Ending the video, she remained positive and said: “I was just expecting some miraculous miracle, but maybe it’s to come.”

What is breast cancer and who can get it?

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and appears “when abnormal cells in the breast begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way”, Cancer Research UK explains.

While it’s mainly something that affects women, men can get breast cancer too, but it’s rare for this to happen.

In a year, about 59,400 people are given a breast cancer diagnosis (160 people a day).

When to see your GP about cancer

Tracy’s followers have sent messages of support, with one commenting: “Sending you the biggest hugs.. you can do this 💪💕🩷 xxxxx.”

Another said: “Oh dear girl I’m sorry there wasn’t the best news.

“Take care rest when you can and look forward to better days ahead they will come ❤️❤️❤️.”

This person added: “So sorry to hear the disheartening news-I know how hard this journey is and how much you cling to the hope it is all working.

“Sending lots of love and positivity that your miracle is just waiting around the corner 🙏🤗💕.”

Another commented: “Again sending love to you Tracey.

“You’re so strong and brave to go through your journey so publicly.

“I’m sure with all that strength you have will get you through this ❤️”.

Tracy shares regular updates on Instagram, raising awareness of the disease.

Bryson DeChambeau has said he is “moving past” the controversial two-shot penalty that hampered his bid for The Open at Royal Birkdale.

DeChambeau was docked two shots after his second round in Southport having been deemed by officials to have improved the area of his backswing by standing on and flattening grass as he played a shot out of the rough on the fifth hole.

The 32-year-old has since been accused of attempting to involve Donald Trump in the rules dispute, and eventually faded from contention to finish in a tie for 14th at the year’s final men’s major.

DeChambeau had missed the cut in the first three majors of the year and was left to rue what might have been having originally been just one shot off the halfway lead of Lucas Herbert before the penalty.

But while still believing he was in the right, and should not have been penalised, an honest DeChambeau admitted that he was able to move on from the incident.

“Look, golf is golf, right?” the American said after the opening round of LIV Golf UK with he and Herbert second and first at the JCB Golf and Country Club.

“I wish [Lucas and I] could have gone to battle last week. It wasn’t that way. But life goes on. There’s moments of adversity in everybody’s life, and I was passionate about what I believed and thought was right.

“For me, it’s now in a place that it is what it is, and you keep moving through it. You keep moving past it.”

Herbert shot an 11-under round of 61 to lead DeChambeau by three as the Australian continued his strong form after finishing tied sixth at The Open.

Ryan Fox claimed his first major crown as the New Zealander lifted the Claret Jug after birdieing the last at Birkdale.

DeChambeau closed six shots behind the winner – and pinpointed two triple bogeys, one of which came as a result of the penalty, as key to his failure to fully challenge.

“I made the cut,” DeChambeau quipped when asked about his Open. “No, it was a good fight.

“I wish I would have given it more on Saturday and Sunday. Felt like I could have. Besides the 5th hole and being three-over on that hole and then the 11th hole [in the fourth round], that’s six shots. That’s tied for the lead right there. That’s two holes and I’m right there with the Claret Jug.”

It is following an incident on Liverpool Road on March 29.

Jacob Hall of Chapel Street, Leigh, is among the men charged alongside two men from Irlam.

Also charged is Cole Churchill, of Morillion Road, Irlam, and Lee Browne, of Bowness Avenue, Irlam.

Hall, 19, Church, 20, and Browne, 18, are due to appear at Manchester Magistrates’ Court on 21 August 2026.

Donald Trump has spent decades presenting himself as a financial genius. His strongest evidence remains that he managed to bankrupt a casino, a business designed so that the customers are statistically guaranteed to lose.

Now that same grasp of economics has been entrusted with the world’s largest economy, global trade and a war in the Middle East – like appointing the captain of the Titanic because he once claimed expertise in ice. Last night, Trump imposed fresh tariffs of between 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent on more than 80 countries, including Britain, Canada, Mexico, Australia, India and the European Union.

Once again, America’s allies have been spoken to like contestants on The Apprentice, humiliated and punished on a presidential whim. Except this is no television show. The consequences will be measured in higher prices, lost jobs, damaged pensions and greater instability across the world.

OPINION

Trump talks about tariffs as though they are cheques posted to Washington by grateful foreign governments. In reality, they are paid by importers and passed on to families through more expensive goods.

This has been explained to him repeatedly. He either cannot understand it or believes his supporters will never question him. Both possibilities are alarming. After his previous tariffs were ruled unlawful, Trump needed another legal excuse. His administration has now settled on forced labour, claiming dozens of countries were failing to stop goods made through exploitation entering their supply chains.

Yet many of those being punished already ban such imports and have stronger employment protections than America. Trump has discovered workers’ rights with the sincerity of a burglar discovering home security. Forced labour is a grave abuse. Using it as a disguise for another tariff war cheapens the issue and exposes the cynicism beneath his incompetence.

The same ignorance and arrogance are driving Trump’s needless war with Iran.

In both cases, he mistakes aggression for strength, improvisation for strategy and confidence for knowledge. He launches first, boasts second and leaves everyone else to contain the consequences. Trump has no convincing endgame in Iran, no clear definition of victory and no credible path out. The conflict has already cost around £28 billion, with tens of billions more being demanded. Oil has risen beyond $100 a barrel. Petrol has become more expensive. Transport, manufacturing and food costs are being pushed higher.

Trump has created a military crisis, an energy crisis and a trade crisis at the same time, then congratulated himself on the result. It is like setting fire to the curtains and demanding praise for discovering central heating.

This week, he had the audacity to say people were “very impressed”. Americans, let alone the rest of the world, are not. History offers few examples of one man creating so much instability while remaining certain that he is the cleverest person in every room. Markets this morning have tumbled as investors try to measure the combined damage of war, oil prices and tariffs. Yet the real victims are not hedge-fund billionaires with teams of advisers.

They are workers with modest workplace pensions, pensioners relying on small private funds and families who have saved carefully for years.

They followed the advice they were given. They put aside what they could and hoped it might provide some security in retirement. Then Trump dreams up another economic policy between a Big Mac and a round of golf, and another piece of that security disappears. He will not suffer alongside them.

While ordinary people watch their savings fall and household bills rise, the Trump family has used the presidency to build extraordinary wealth through cryptocurrency, licensing deals and businesses tied to political power.

His supporters were promised a man so rich he could never be bought. They received one determined to sell every available surface, including the office itself. The arrangement is brutally simple. Trump creates the uncertainty, working families absorb the losses, and his relatives find another opportunity to profit.

His economic worldview has all the sophistication of a child dividing sweets. If another country prospers, America must have been cheated. If a business imports goods, it deserves punishment. If prices rise, someone abroad must be blamed.

There is no room for supply chains, investment, alliances or consequences. There is only Trump standing amid the wreckage, pointing at the rubble and insisting it proves he is winning. Even his most devoted supporters are beginning to notice. Many MAGA voters blame the Iran war for higher petrol prices, while Republicans facing the midterm elections fear they will pay the electoral price.

Trump appears unconcerned. He cannot seek another term, and loyalty in his world has always travelled in one direction.

America has survived foolish presidents, reckless presidents and dishonest presidents. Trump combines all three with an almost artistic lack of self-awareness. He is financially illiterate yet obsessed with money, intellectually incurious yet certain of his brilliance, and becoming personally richer while millions suffer from his decisions.

His greatest talent has always been converting private failure into public cost. Trump promised to run America like one of his businesses. He has kept that promise. The debts belong to somebody else, the damage is left behind, and he walks away, insisting nobody in history has ever enjoyed greater success.

Wathnan Racing’s son of Frankel came fifth of nine over the straight mile at Royal Ascot in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes.

Previously, he’d also finished in mid-division in top-class company in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

Now the four-year-old returns to an extended mile and a quarter for the £165,000 Group 2 at York.

The John and Thady Gosden-trained colt ran at the course over the same distance when finishing second of 11 in the 2025 renewal of the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

The winner that day, Pride of Arras, could again be in opposition.

Racing advisor to his owners, Wathan, Richard Brown said: “He showed a lot of zip when he won the Earl of Sefton (over nine furlongs at Newmarket), and so we’ve had a crack at a mile.

“And he hasn’t got the zip of those top milers, so we’re finally back to a mile and a quarter.

“I think that’s where his future lies.

“He’s still lightly raced and I think York will suit him.

“He’s already run well there in the Dante, and it looks a very good race on paper, as you’d expect for the grade and the prize money.

“John and Thady seem very happy with him.”

Damysus also holds an entry for the £1.5million Juddmonte International, which will be staged at York on Wednesday 19 August.

Mr Brown added: “Reading reports it looks like that’s going to be a clash between Constitution River and Ombudsman.

“We’ve got to be realistic – Damysus is a very nice colt, but we’re quite a long way off that.”

York’s latest two-day meeting is part of the Sky Bet Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival.

The fixture begins on Friday evening when the British EBF Lyric Fillies’ Stakes is the highlight.

Eleven fillies and mares have been entered in the extended mile and a quarter Listed contest.

Saturday’s seven-race card starts at 1.30pm with the Sky Bet ‘Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe’ Handicap.

Aston Villa signing Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea sees several former Manchester United players showing the Argentina international their support on social media

David de Gea has wished Alejandro Garnacho all the best after joining Aston Villa on a season-long loan from Chelsea.

There is an obligation for the transfer to become permanent next summer, should certain criteria be met. Manchester United retain a 10% sell-on clause from their £40million deal to sell the Argentina international less than 12 months ago.

Unai Emery appears to have pushed for the move, saying in Villa’s statement announcing their signing: “We are delighted with Alejandro. He is so talented, young and he showed us his wish to help our project. We are really happy.”

Garnacho, 22, posted several photos on Instagram to mark his move, including one posing alongside his new head coach. Another shows him standing side by side with Jorge Mendes.

Others show Garnacho in Villa’s new home shirt, with No.17 on the back, the same as he wore during his last two seasons at United. There is also a candid image of him aboard a flight from Madrid to Birmingham.

Garnacho captions the post with a purple heart emoji, for the claret in their home kit. He also adds a lion emoji, referencing Villa’s nickname, the Lions, one of which also features on their club crest.

Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.

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De Gea is the most notable former team-mate of Garnacho’s to comment on the post, saying: “All the best,” punctuated with a flexed bicep emoji. The pair played together 31 times for United, primarily during the 2022/23 season.

Plenty more ex-colleagues of Garnacho have liked the post. Among those to do so are Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ayden Heaven, Brandon Williams, Daniel Gore, Facundo Pellistri, Jesse Lingard, Mason Greenwood, Rasmus Hojlund and Sofyan Amrabat.

Garnacho mentioned United during his first interview. He told VillaTV: “I was looking for a club to get confidence at and to try to be the player I was in my first years at Manchester United. I spoke with the manager, and I think he will give me the confidence to be here and to help the team.”

Emery and European football are also cited as reasons why Garnacho has joined Villa. The winger said: “I saw the Europa League last season, and now we’re joining the Champions League; it’s important to be a part of this.

“I spoke with Unai before I came here, and he gave me confidence. That’s why I’m here.

“It’s important to play in European competitions. The Champions League is the best one, so we’re going to play in that this season.

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There are over 12,672 across the country – including 601 in South Lanarkshire.

Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has said that Scotland continues to lead the way in the provision of public electric (EV) charging points as new figures showed there are over 12,672 across the country – including 601 in South Lanarkshire.

In 2024, Scotland reached its target of installing more than 6000 public EV charge points, two years ahead of the 2026 target..

Scotland continues to have the highest number of public charging devices per head of population of any UK nation.

The SNP Government is committed to making sustainable travel accessible to everyone.

Ms Haughey saidr: “I welcome these new figures that show there are now over 600 public EV charging points working in South Lanarkshire.

“On the back of scrapping peak rail fares on Scotland’s trains, this is further evidence of the SNP Government’s commitment to making sustainable travel accessible for everyone in Scotland.

“I will continue to work with local businesses and private charge point providers to secure more investment here, so that we can maintain this progress and deliver more public charge points locally.

“By fast-tracking EV infrastructure, we’re paving the way for a more environmentally friendly Scotland.”

Neighbouring North Lanarkshire has 583 public electric (EV) charging points.

EV charging points are accessible stations that allow drivers to recharge their cars away from home.

They are located at supermarkets, motorway service stations, and residential streets.

Charging speeds range from slow (7 kW) for overnight top-ups to ultra-rapid (350 kW) for quick 20-minute highway stops.

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