NHS Lanarkshire has been chosen to host one of the pilot centres offering appointment-free healthcare access

NHS Lanarkshire is to host one of Scotland’s new walk-in GP clinics, with a facility due to open in the Clydesdale locality in 2027.

The Scottish Government has announced 16 locations across the country where patients will be able to attend without appointments on a daily basis, with Clydesdale included in the second phase of the project planned for early next year.

Mairi McAllan, the Clydesdale MSP and Scottish Government minister, called the decision “a total game-changer for local people” and noted that she had already suggested Lanark sites Braidfute Retail Park, Atholl House and the town’s former tourist information centre as potential venues.

Clydesdale is one of three phase-two sites – focused on “premises on the high street or former retail sites” – which Holyrood officials say “will be delivered subject to appropriate clinical governance, premise readiness and workforce arrangements planned for later in 2026-2027”.

NHS Lanarkshire chief executive Louise Long told the Hamilton Advertiser: “We welcome the announcement by the Scottish Government that Lanarkshire has been selected to host one of the new walk-in GP clinics as part of the rollout.

“We continue to liaise with the Scottish Government on the location and operating arrangements of the new walk-in GP clinic and will share further information as soon as these plans are confirmed.”

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The location of the walk-in sites across Scotland, intended to offer “GP-led care without an appointment” was announced this week with first minister John Swinney saying: “With centres open 12-8pm, seven days a week, and based in easily accessible locations in our communities across the country, this is part of a package addressing the 8am rush that has frustrated so many of us, easing capacity pressures on family doctors.

“By establishing a series of walk-in clinics we can ensure people are seen by a clinician at a time that works for them. Our programme will help us deliver over one million additional GP and nurse appointments.”

Ms McAllan says the Clydesdale clinic “will allow people to see a GP or nurse quickly without the need for an appointment, focusing on urgent, on-the-day primary care needs”.

She said: “I know what a difference this will make to people in Clydesdale. The clinic will ensure that people can see a GP quicker, without an appointment, and help ease pressures on GP practices and A&E departments.

“I am pleased that the new clinic will offer a seven-day service, open 12-8pm, with no appointment required – just drop in.”

Imogen Walker, the Hamilton & Clyde Valley MP, had told the Sunday Mail following the constituency MSP’s earlier calls to locate a clinic in Clydesdale that the request was “electioneering of the most cynical kind” ahead of May’s Scottish Parliament poll.

READ MORE: Four Lanarkshire police station front counters to close

The MP highlighted figures indicating that NHS Lanarkshire had the lowest GP headcount per 10,000 patients in Scotland last year, and said: “Any additional healthcare provision in Lanark is welcome, and I support any measure that improves access to care for my constituents.

“However, after almost 19 years with the SNP in power, it is indefensible that patients in Lanark are still facing such serious problems accessing basic GP care. It is hypocritical for a senior Scottish Government minister to promote new projects while basic GP services in her own constituency have been allowed to deteriorate.

“If the Scottish Government has millions for new health care facilities, then let them spend it when it is needed, not just at election time.”

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Ms McAllan responded: “While Labour tried to oppose the delivery of this vital new service in Clydesdale, the SNP is getting on with the job of delivering for Scotland.”

Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland chair Dr Chris Provan said following the announcement of the clinic locations: “Walk‑in GP services were piloted in England in the early 2000s [and] most have since closed. Evaluations found little to no reduction in pressure on in‑hours GP practices and highlighted that walk‑in centres were more expensive to run.

“It is unclear how the pilot sites will deliver the Scottish Government’s commitment of one million appointments per year.

“If, as expected, the pilots do not significantly ease pressure on core GP services, any useful learning should certainly be adopted, but the centres should then be closed. Redirecting the £36m investment to core general practice would be more beneficial for patients.”

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Police and ambulance crews were called to Healeyfield Lane on Tuesday (February 24) after a motorbike and Volvo collided at around 2.20pm. 

The male rider of the bike was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance with serious head injuries while the passenger was taken to hospital with leg injuries. 

Their current conditions remain unknown at this time.

The road was closed for several hours while investigators worked at the scene – with a picture showing the Great North Air Ambulance Service helicopter on a field nearby.

The North East Ambulance Service (GNAAS) confirmed earlier this week that one person had been flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and another taken by road to the University Hospital of North Durham. 

The male driver of the Volva was unhurt. 

Durham Police is now appealing for more information and for anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch. 

A GNAAS spokesperson said: “Our critical care team was activated at 2.49pm to reports of a road traffic collision in Healeyfield.

“We had a paramedic and doctor on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 3.06pm. Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat a patient.”

A North East Ambulance service spokesperson said: “We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Healeyfield Lane in Consett at 2.14pm this afternoon (24 February).

“We dispatched two ambulance crews and requested support from our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“One patient was flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary and a second patient was taken by road to University Hospital North Durham.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage is asked to contact the force on 101 quoting incident reference 206 of February 24.

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistan’s defense minister early Friday said that his country had run out of “patience” and now considers itself in an “open war” with neighboring Afghanistan after both sides launched strikes following what Islamabad described as an Afghan cross-border attack.

In a post on X, Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif said Pakistan had hoped for peace in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of NATO forces and expected the Taliban to focus on the welfare of the Afghan people and regional stability. Instead, he alleged, the Taliban had turned Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” gathered militants from around the world and begun “exporting terrorism.”

“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he said. There has been no reaction from Afghan government officials to Asif’s comments.

Pakistan has frequently accused neighboring India of backing the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban, allegations New Delhi denies.

His remarks came hours after Pakistan carried out airstrikes in Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul, as well as in Kandahar in the south and Paktia province in the southeast, according to Pakistani officials and Afghanistan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Pakistan says the strikes were in retaliation for Afghan cross-border attacks.

The escalation comes months after Qatar and Turkey mediated a ceasefire between the two sides.

Both governments have issued sharply differing casualty claims and said they inflicted heavy losses on the other. The claims could not be independently verified.

Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry said overnight that 55 Pakistani soldiers had been killed, including some whose bodies were taken into Afghanistan, and that “several others were captured alive.” It said eight Afghan soldiers were killed and 11 wounded. The ministry said it destroyed 19 Pakistani army posts and two bases and that the fighting ended around midnight, about four hours after it began Thursday.

Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said two Pakistani soldiers were killed and three wounded.

Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, denied that any Pakistani soldiers had been captured. In a post on X, he said at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed and more than 200 wounded. He also said 27 Afghan posts were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify where the casualties occurred but said additional losses were estimated in strikes on military targets in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar.

In Islamabad, two senior security officials said Afghan forces at some border posts had raised white flags, a gesture typically interpreted as a request to halt firing. The officials said Pakistani forces were continuing what they described as a strong retaliatory response to “unprovoked aggression” by the Afghan Taliban and had destroyed several key Taliban posts along the border.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Asif also accused the Taliban government of denying Afghans basic human rights, including rights for women that he said are guaranteed under Islam, without providing details or evidence.

He said Pakistan had tried to maintain stability both directly and through friendly countries. “Today, when attempts were made to target Pakistan with aggression, by the grace of God, our armed forces are giving a decisive response,” he said.

Authorities in Pakistan said dozens of Afghan refugees who were waiting to return home from the northwestern Torkham border have been taken back to safer places following the eruption of clashes.

Pakistan launched a sweeping crackdown in Oct. 2023 to expel migrants without documents, urging those in the country to leave of their own accord to avoid arrest and forcible deportation and forcibly expelling others. Iran also began a crackdown on migrants at around the same time.

Since then, millions have streamed across the border into Afghanistan, including people who were born in Pakistan decades ago and had built lives and created businesses there.

Last year alone, 2.9 million people returned to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency has said, with nearly 80,000 having returned so far this year.

___

Afghan reported from Kabul, Afghanistan. Associated Press writers Riaz Khan and Rasool Dawar in Peshawar, Pakistan, Eduardo Castillo in Beijing and Elena Becatoros in Athens, Greece, also contributed to this story.

In a wide-ranging interview, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Sky News he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin for talks and will do anything to bring about peace.

He said the US has the power to end the war – but must exert greater pressure on Moscow.

“The United States even more stronger than they think about themselves. And I think so really. And they really have pressure on Putin. They can stop this war.”

But he urged the administration in Washington to tighten sanctions against the families of Russia’s leadership and to provide Ukraine with more advanced weapons, arguing that only increased pressure would force Moscow to take negotiations seriously.

On the question of how close Ukraine is to reaching peace he says there is a window between now and the American midterm elections in November.

“Now I think that we have a chance. Between us, what I really think about next year… it depends on these months, if we will have a chance to finish the war before autumn. Before elections, important, influential, elections in the United States. If it will be possible to achieve a peace, we will have, now we have this window.”

Read more:
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Zelenskyy marks four years since Russia’s invasion

I spoke to him for an hour at the presidential buildings in Kyiv about what Ukraine needs now – and what must happen for the war to end.

More than four years after Russia launched its botched full-scale invasion, the toll on the country – and on him and his family – is unmistakable.

As we walked through near darkness to the room where the sit-down interview was held, he spoke about the strain of rolling power cuts and entire regions enduring temperatures as low as -40 degrees without reliable heating.

When I asked whether Ukraine could win the war, his answer was equivocal.

“It depends what people mean when they say, to win. And, really it’s very difficult to speak about territories. First of all how to get back all of the land for today, it’s very difficult. And it will be too much losses (of) people lives… But what is good that Russia also can’t do it on the battlefield. So that’s why they’re not winning and we are not losing.”

But on the question of surrendering the fortress cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, he was unequivocal – that would be a red line.

“It’s our territory and it sounds unbelievably strange why we have to withdraw from our land? Why they occupied it, our land and nobody can push them out.”

“If we will withdraw from this territory, like you said, for example, Sloviansk at the very moment, at this very moment, 200,000 people who are there now will be occupied by the Russians, who said to Russia that these people are ready to be Russian people? And if they don’t, they will kill them or push to the front or push to the prison.”

Zelenskyy also spoke openly about his relationship with Donald Trump, describing it as “not simple” but stressed that Ukraine’s relationship went beyond “personalities”.

The singer said ‘I could hardly breathe, and my arms and my chest were blue – and my face.’

Singer Max George has said his heart condition has been “a blessing in ways”, as he discussed the importance of charity work and raising awareness as part of his recovery. The 37-year-old was admitted to hospital in December 2024 and doctors discovered he had a 2:1 block on his heart and needed urgent surgery because his heart rate was not improving.

George was fitted with a pacemaker that week, which he described as a “shock”, and has since been on the mend – having returned to performing with duo The Wanted 2.0 last year. He is now backing a new campaign by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to raise awareness of people living with heart conditions.

In an interview with the Press Association, George reflected on how he finds it “really rewarding” to speak to people about his condition. The singer started publicly speaking about his heart problems during his time in hospital almost two years ago, when he documented the experience on Instagram due to “boredom”.

He said: “To interact with people was just something nice to do. But the more I spoke to people, the more I realised that there was a lot of people my age and younger that have had this happen to them. It kind of triggered a thought process that it was important to get the word out there – that (heart problems) don’t just happen to people over 75.

“If I can help them with their story or help bring more money towards treatment for heart conditions, then I’m all for it.”

He added: “In terms of that, this whole thing has been a blessing in ways, because it’s been really rewarding speaking to people, especially people that are younger than me, and helping them feel a little bit better about their case.”

George was diagnosed a heart block which, according to the NHS website, is caused by a problem with the electrical pulses controlling the heartbeat and can be helped by having a pacemaker fitted to keep the heart beating regularly. He said: “It was mad. I knew something was seriously wrong, because I could hardly breathe, and my arms and my chest were blue – and my face.

“It was a shock more than anything. My heart rate was so low at that time, it was at around 24 (beats per minute) and it was like that for about eight days whilst I was in hospital waiting for the operation.

“I couldn’t physically feel anything that was going on, but I was aware of it. There were times where it kind of felt like torture a little bit.”

As part of the BHF campaign, George will speak with people who have heart conditions and they will swap stories about their experiences. He told PA he is “genuinely buzzing” to be part of the campaign, which will see the charity unveil 65 red benches – one for each year it has been established – across the UK in tribute to those living with cardiovascular disease.

Each bench carries the name of a survivor plus a short message about them and what they enjoy. George said: “It feels really cool to be a part of it. “This is an awesome campaign to be supporting, and we’ll just see where it goes.”

Manchester-born George rose to fame in the 2010s with The Wanted alongside bandmates Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Nathan Sykes and Tom Parker – who died in 2022 at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. The group, best known for songs including All Time Low, Glad You Came and Chasing The Sun, had two UK number one singles and four UK top 10 albums.

George also appeared in US musical series Glee and competed on Strictly Come Dancing in 2020, where he met former EastEnders star Maisie Smith, who is now his girlfriend.

This picturesque place in North Wales is a hotspot for hikers and bikers, with spectacular waterfalls including Swallow Falls and traditional cosy pubs

Enveloped by forests, mountains, trails, rivers and cascading waterfalls, this village is a picture-perfect haven in Wales just begging to be discovered.

Betws-y-Coed is recognised by keen hikers and cyclists as a prime location for adventures, and with good cause, as it caters for every kind of outdoor pursuit imaginable.

Combine this with its rich history, evident in its delightful heritage buildings, and the area is teeming with life and tales waiting to be shared.

In Conwy, the village lies within easy reach of the eastern edge of Snowdonia, meaning tourists frequently pass through.

What’s more, the North Wales destination is positioned near the meeting point of both the River Conwy and the River Llugwy, resulting in a wealth of stunning water features in and around the area.

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Waterfalls

There are three waterfalls close to Betws-y-Coed, and Swallow Falls is the most visited by far. It’s ranked as the top attraction near the village, located roughly two miles away, and for good reason: its multi-tiered waterfall along the river is truly spectacular.

In fact, one recent visitor declared on TripAdvisor it’s the finest waterfall in the whole of Europe. They wrote: “First off, these are the best waterfalls in Europe.

Second, the waterfalls are very beautiful. Third, they have nice rocks. Lastly, this is the thing to see in Betws-y-Coed.”

Unlike many impressive waterfalls, this one doesn’t demand a lengthy and treacherous trek.

The principal viewing point is reached via turnstiles opposite a hotel car park, where admission costs approximately £2 – a fee which goes directly towards preserving the site’s natural splendour.

Another breathtaking waterfall nearby is Fairy Glen, steeped in mythical folklore and legend. It’s frequently described as a “magical” destination in reviews and can be enjoyed from as little as 50p entry fee.

One visitor wrote: “This place is magical. Tucked away, but with good defined paths – it was beautiful. The riverside walk along was equally beautiful with rapids and whirlpools, and then tranquillity. Well maintained, a real treasure.”

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Historic railway

The Conwy Valley Railway Museum is a wonderful attraction for railway enthusiasts and those simply seeking an enjoyable family day out, particularly for the popular train ride.

The miniature railway allows guests to meander through the picturesque grounds, spotting miniature villages, tunnels and bridges along the way, with plenty of hidden gems to discover – ideal for keeping youngsters entertained.

Inside, the museum houses an extensive collection of vintage railway memorabilia, giving visitors the opportunity to browse old tickets, timetables, equipment and workers’ uniforms. Together, these exhibits paint a vivid portrait of the ‘golden age’ of rail travel throughout the UK.

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One delighted visitor said: “Amazing experience, fairly priced, staff were amazing and helpful, best for families with young children. The train ride lasted about 8 minutes but was perfect for young children.”

Pubs

At the heart of the village, visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining, with everything from cafés to fish and chips, a pizzeria and highly-rated restaurants, but it’s the traditional pubs that truly stand out.

A well-loved fixture in the area is the striking stable pub and bar, Y Stablau, boasting an abundance of outdoor seating ideal for the summer months and a consistently vibrant atmosphere. A guest noted: “Good selection of food on the menu with large portions.

“The outside seating area is beautiful with a lovely atmosphere. It was very busy when we arrived, but don’t let that put you off. There were lots of staff on hand to help, and they were very friendly. You won’t be disappointed.”

For a somewhat more traditional ambience, Ty Gwyn Hotel Restaurant serves not only as a retreat for tourists in the area but also as a cosy dining destination, offering wholesome, satisfying meals. Similarly, there’s the Royal Oak Hotel and Pont Y Pair Inn, which sit alongside the village’s famously picturesque bridge.

Built around 1500, the bridge was originally designed for packhorses to enable people to cross the river, and remains a prominent landmark in the village to this day.

It’s a stunning sight, framed by large rocks as the river rushes beneath it at considerable speed, and diners can soak up the view from the pub and hotel.

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“After using whitening toothpaste over the years and them not working I am extremely impressed by these strips”

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Everyday staples such as tea, coffee and red wine are amongst the most frequent culprits behind tooth discolouration, as they can diminish the natural radiance of a smile over time. Increasingly, people are looking for gentle, home-based teeth whitening solutions that integrate seamlessly into their daily routines without the sensitivity sometimes associated with conventional bleaching methods.

Modern day whitening products are advanced enough to offer gradual stain elimination rather than aggressive chemical lightening, placing priority on enamel protection and convenience. One such product is from MySweetSmile, whose approach reportedly focuses on merging cosmetic outcomes with formulations designed to be appropriate for routine application.

Currently, the MySweetSmile Teeth Whitening Strips are priced at £19.99 on Amazon, with over 300 purchased in the past month. The whitening strips are formulated to address surface stains resulting from everyday habits whilst being appropriate for sensitive teeth.

They feature an enamel-safe composition that excludes peroxide-based bleaching, instead concentrating on a more progressive brightening effect that corresponds with regular use. Designed to fit into a typical morning routine, the strips require only a brief application period and are intended to work without complex preparation or extended wear.

The design aims to provide a handy solution for those seeking to brighten their smile without disrupting daily routines. Each pack includes 21 individual treatments, sufficient for three full cycles and, as per the website, they should be used once daily for seven days to achieve optimal results, reports the Mirror.

The Teeth Whitening Strips are available from MySweetSmile

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The strips are proving popular during the festive season

Also available on Amazon is the MySweetSmile Teeth Whitening Powder, reduced to £19.99 from £24.99. This product comes in two flavours, mint and strawberry, and is designed to combat everyday staining, as its formula assists in removing discolouration caused by coffee, tea, wine, smoking and natural ageing.

According to Amazon, the straightforward dip and brush routine takes just a few minutes and is peroxide-free, safe for enamel and suitable for older teeth as well as dental work such as crowns, veneers and bonding. If these aren’t the products for everyone, Smile Therapy offers its Advanced Teeth Whitening and Cleaning Strips (14 Treatments) for £17.99, reduced from £39.99 on their website.

When applied to teeth, each strip is said to release the active ingredients of the whitening formula into the tooth’s structure to help remove surface stains. Boots offers another option with the Rapid White 5 Minute Dissolving Tooth Whitening Strips priced at £25.

Claimed to be clinically proven to brighten teeth by up to five shades in four days, or three shades in a single use, these strips are ultra-thin, flexible and include an accelerator along with an instant whitening toothpaste. The MySweetSmile products have achieved a respectable 3.9 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon.

One customer commented: “Used these for 7 days now and noticed quite a difference. Have ordered my second box.”

Another added as part of a more detailed review: “Took a chance on this because of the reviews on different sites/social media. Glad I did as it worked. Okay, I don’t have sparking bright white teeth (yet), but they are around 5-6 shades lighter after 7 days.

“I understand how long it takes to work and how much can vary from person to person, so I was very surprised and pleased I noticed a slight change from the first time I used it. After using whitening toothpaste over the years and them not working I am extremely impressed by these strips. They are not overly cheap, but I wouldn’t say they were really expensive, but as they worked they are worth the money.”

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Some buyers deducted a star, noting: “After using a few weeks, it seems to help remove stains from teeth. Easy to use but need to keep it for at least 25 mins which is quite long. Also, after removing it, there is a very sticky residue left on teeth when needs a bit of effort to remove it. Doesn’t taste bad either.”

Another individual commented: “Really clear instructions and comfortable to use. Didn’t really have high expectations and have only had for two days but I’m sure I am already seeing a difference.”

On the whole, most people were satisfied: “They’re super easy to use. enamel-safe and don’t cause any sensitivity at all. I’ve tried sooo many whitening products before, but these are on another level.

“Within a few days, I noticed a significant difference – my teeth are visibly whiter and brighter! Plus, they fit comfortably and don’t slip around. Trust me, try them and you won’t be disappointed!”.

We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, HuffPost UK may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI – prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.

World Book Day seems to come around in the blink of an eye – and every year I find myself scrabbling to pull together a suitable costume that won’t result in an early-morning meltdown.

If you don’t have time to craft something from scratch – and let’s face it, who does with all the other life and school admin piling up? – I’ve done the heavy lifting for you.

Here’s a cool collection of costumes (and matching books), so you can simply click, add to basket, hit ‘buy’ and feel smug next Thursday (5 March) when everything’s sorted.

It’s thought the idea behind World Book Day actually began in Spain, with the Catalan tradition of giving books to friends and family in honour of the author Miguel de Cervantes.

In 1995, World Book and Copyright Day was created by UNESCO with a view to promoting reading, publishing and copyright. Each year it falls on 23 April.

As children in the UK are usually on a school holiday around that time of year, World Book Day is typically celebrated on the first Thursday in March instead.

The Gorton and Denton byelection had been billed as a close three-horse race. Then Hannah Spencer won by a remarkable landslide.

Victory was the flavour of the night for the Hannah Spencer. In a stunning landslide, the Greater Manchester plumber, and newly qualified plasterer as she so gleefully announced, became the first Green Party member to win a seat in the north of England.

It had long been billed as a close three-horse race. But that reality soon faded when the count at Manchester Central was finally revealed after six tense hours. The polls closed at 10pm sharp – and the battle was firmly on, much like it had been for weeks.

The people of Denton and Gorton are too used to scandal and sleaze – their home constituency thrust into a manic media spotlight with infighting and dirty tricks which all started with a WhatsApp scandal last year.

As ballot boxes arrived one by one on Thursday (February 26), the night was not without its fair share of chaos. Journalists at the Manchester Evening News were snubbed by Labour, a row erupted over claims of ‘family voting’ and colluding between voting intentions, resulting in brash claims of party ‘cheating’, and an overwhelmed Hannah Spencer arrived late to the count and managed to avoid media questioning.

Follow LIVE updates here as Greens win byelection

It’s been a night to remember. Commentators and journalists have repeatedly noted the constituency’s huge divide and for a while, it was anyone’s game.

It is a constituency of two halves, as explored by the Manchester Evening News, with the Manchester side predominantly made up of younger and ethnically diverse residents and the Tameside half inhabited by mainly older, white British people.

There was a tough bid from Spencer, Goodwin and Stogia. They were tipped as the top runners early on, but a clear winner was vacant. Polls repeatedly changed. Nobody really knew which way it was going to go.

The night started off to a chaotic start. It took just an hour for an almighty row to erupt after the polls closed. Independent election observers Democracy Volunteers claimed there were ‘extremely high’ cases of illegal ‘family voting’ at polling stations in Gorton and Denton.

The firm said they had visited 22 of the 45 polling stations, and claimed to have witnessed incidents of family voting in 15 of the 22 polling stations observed, with some 32 cases in total. The Green Party, Reform UK and Labour have also since all responded to the claims, which Reform’s Matt Goodwin described as ‘deeply concerning’.

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It prompted early fears of a re-count or appeal. Manchester council asked why the group issued their statement after polls closed at 10pm and not sooner. They also said staff were not told of family voting issues on-the-ground.

It was then that voting numbers were released. Despite more than 50 per cent of electorate not turning out to vote, it was billed as being a success, with more crossing their sheet than in the general election. Officials revealed the turnout was 47.62 per cent, with 36,903 votes cast.

Shortly after, the mood changed in the counting room. Reporters at the scene said rumblings of a Green victory began after the votes were verified. The ambiguity of the result was all of a sudden becoming much clearer and excitement grew.

So loud was the noise, that Labour’s Lucy Powell got herself in a sticky situation on Sky News, admitting that the Greens had ‘won the argument‘ on getting voters to divert away from Reform. She looked downtrodden as she said: “What’s clear is the Greens have turned out their vote higher than they might have otherwise done.

“There was a clear majority in this constituency that didn’t want Reform to win. People have been grappling with what to do in choosing who to vote for, and on the day the Greens have won that argument more strongly than we have.”

In the newsroom, political commentators and insiders were also billing for a Green victory. We kept the people of Gorton and Denton updated throughout it all. Had Labour voters defected to Green?

It was also referenced just how unique this byelection was. The Manchester-half of the constituency is largely ethnic minority groups and younger – a patch where smaller parties previously made inroads. It is also double the population of the Tameside and Denton part of the patch.

The candidates arrived one by one. Sir Oink-A-Lot, from the Monster Raving Loony party was met with cheers and fanfare. A bizarre but expected entrance, jumping in like he’d just necked a few pints at the pub, complete with stick on snout.

There was silence in the room as Labour’s candidate, Angeliki Stogia arrived. News had already escaped the was likely to have been pipped to the post by the Greens and Reform. Walking alongside Powell, she put on a brave face, but was clearly downtrodden and emotional.

Next up was Matt Goodwin for Reform, who launched quite quickly into a rant and conceded victory to the Greens, slamming the expected victory as being down to ‘a coalition of woke progressives and islamists’.

And last to arrive was Hannah Spencer. With Green’s leader Zack Polanski grinning like a Cheshire cat, it’s as though they already knew. She was quizzed on her punctuality, or lack of, seeming to dodge the camera and make a run for it before the big announcement.

Then the results came. A landslide victory for the Green Party and a working-class girl from Manchester. Not only throwing Keir Starmer’s tenure into dispute, but marking her as the first Green MP elected in the North. The 34-year-old won by a majority of more than 4,000 votes.

Her speech offered hope to the working class people of Greater Manchester. Hailing from the region and working in south Manchester, she emphasised that she is one of us.

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“I am no different to every single person here in this constituency. I work hard. That is what we do,” she said. “People in their thousands told me, on the doorstep and at the ballot box, that what we are sick of is being let down and looked down on.

“We will finally get a seat at the table. We can demand better without hating each other. We ran a hopeful campaign backed by thousands of volunteers and activists. We defeated the parties of billionaire donors.

“Because this is Manchester. We do things differently here.”

But the bitterness that we have seen in this fight didn’t cease. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage swiftly accused the Greens of cheating their way to victory in a damning statement. Labour’s Angeliki snubbed the Manchester Evening News and refused to talk after she was pushed down to third place, making a swift exit.

It isn’t all catfighting. Hannah Spencer’s confident and profound speech will be music to the ears of many in Gorton and Denton. The only people who may be disappointed, are her customers she won’t have chance to visit.

“I might have to cancel the work you’ve booked in,” she quipped. “I’m heading to Parliament.”

A police officer has been sacked for moonlighting as a barista while receiving full pay from his force.

PC Stanley Kennett, 31, ran The Coffee Cycle, based in a bike shop in Storrington, West Sussex, while employed by the Metropolitan Police.

He tried to register it as a business interest while suspended from duty in April 2024, but was rejected.

Despite not appealing the decision, he continued working at the coffee shop.

The misconduct hearing found this amounted to gross misconduct, and he has been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.

Commander Andy Brittain said: ‘This was not simply a volunteering opportunity, this was a full-blown and expanding business supported by incorporation of that business, the granting of a director’s loan and employment of staff.

‘Pc Kennett is also noted to have been actively engaged on social media promoting that business.

‘This was a sophisticated operation, and Pc Kennett appears heavily involved at all points.

‘All of which appears to undermine the submission on his behalf that at relevant points he lacked capacity to understand the significance of the consequences of his actions.’

He added: ‘Running a business, whether for financial gain or not, whilst suspended on full pay, brings policing and the MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) in particular into disrepute.

‘Members of the public would not expect serving police officers to act in this way.’

It comes as an officer, referred to as Sergeant X by Avon and Somerset Police, has been barred from working in any UK law enforcement agencies after she used a work-from-home hack.

She was found to have weighed down her keyboard with a picture frame, while her keystrokes were identified as ‘significantly high’ in 2024 by the force’s Professional Standards Department.

An investigation was opened, and it was discovered the majority of shifts she worked had between three to eight times higher keystroke count than her colleagues in a similar role.

She admitted to using the corner of a picture frame to weight down her keyboard so her laptop would not go into ‘sleep mode’ while going through challenges in her personal life.

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