Politics
Politics Home Article | Keir Starmer Standing Down As MP To Work In International Affairs
Keir Starmer said he wants to build on work in international affairs and tackling violence against women and girls (Alamy)
2 min read
Keir Starmer is standing down as Labour MP for Holborn and St Pancras, after having resigned as prime minister in June.
Starmer told his local newspaper, Camden New Journal, that he felt it was the “right time” to leave the House of Commons and is planning to take up work in international affairs. The former PM has been MP for Holborn and St Pancras since the 2015 general election.
The North London MP stood down as prime minister in July to make way for Andy Burnham to succeed him as party leader and PM, after two years in office.
“It has been a huge honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country and to have taken over from Frank Dobson, who was such a great constituency MP and a member of the last Labour government,” Starmer said.
“I will now focus on other things and that will be international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast-changing world.
“I will also continue, as I have done for a long time now with others, work on combating violence against women and girls; that is an issue that matters to me hugely. It’s work I started before I became an MP and it’s work I’m keen to continue after I’m an MP. So international affairs on the one hand, and continuing my work on violence against women and girls on the other.”
The Labour Party will now begin a selection process to find a by-election candidate for the seat.
Zack Polanski’s Green Party is expected to campaign hard in the constituency after making significant electoral gains in London in recent months.
A spokesperson for the Greens hinted that Polanski, a London Assembly Member, could put himself forward to be the party’s candidate. “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP. London has been his home for over 20 years,” they said.
You may want to stand up and do a few stretches while reading this.
Research has already established that prolonged sitting is really harmful to our health. It’s linked to conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
But what if it’s also the reason for your back pain or that pesky knee pain that pops up every time you try to jog?
While there are multiple causes of back and knee pain, sitting all day at a desk job may be a major factor, too. Here’s what to know:
Sitting all day can cause tight hip flexors
“A lot depends on how you sit, but essentially, prolonged sitting puts your iliopsoas, which is your primary hip flexor, into a shortened position,” said Dr. Michael Fredericson, a professor of sports medicine and the director of Stanford Lifestyle Medicine in California.
Your hip flexors are a group of muscles that allow you to raise your knee. You also use these muscles when you step up and bend forward.
“So if you’re staying in that position for seven, eight hours a day, then it becomes chronically tight into that position, and you get what we call passive muscle stiffness,” Fredericson said.
This isn’t only a problem for people who sit all day; it’s also common among runners and cyclists, said Brian Kracyla, a physical therapist and owner of Cloudline Physical Therapy in Philadelphia.
According to Melanie McNeal, physical and occupational therapy manager at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, men are often affected.
“Most everyone has tight hip flexors, because we’re a society that does a lot of sitting, so it is a huge issue,” McNeal said. However, it tends to be even more prevalent in men “because males tend to be tighter than females on the whole”.
Luis Alvarez via Getty Images
Tight hip flexors can cause knee and back pain
Why does it matter if you have tight hip flexors? Well, it turns out this issue could be causing pain and mobility problems that you probably aren’t even connecting to tight hips.
One problem people with tight hips may experience is knee pain, McNeal said, “because if your hip flexor is tight … it compresses your kneecap, your patella, and that can cause knee pain, especially with activity like jogging or running or fast walking.”
If you have tight hip flexors, your stride length will be shorter when walking and running, Kracyla said. This contributes to the shuffling gait that’s often seen in older adults.
Having tight hip flexors can also lead to posture issues and back pain.
“You’re going to have a pelvic tilt in the front, which is going to increase the curve of your spine in the back,” Kracyla said, “and often that will manifest itself on our end with lumbar extension compensation, so you could feel more low-back stiffness with activity due to your tight hip flexors.”
“That’s why a lot of times when you stretch the hip flexors, people’s back pain feels better,” Fredericson said.
If you can’t avoid sitting all day, there is a better way to sit
A lot of people have desk jobs and long commutes that require them to sit for many hours of the day, and there is no way around that reality. While sitting all day long isn’t ideal for your hip mobility (and many other systems in your body), there’s a way to adjust.
The problem with sitting all day is the slouching and slumping that most of us do when we’re on our computers, tablets or phones, Fredericson said, “instead of actively using your core and postural muscles to keep your pelvis in a more neutral position.”
“When you’re slouched all day, those hip flexors are in this chronically shortened position, but if you look at people who maintain better posture, their pelvis is not … going into a posterior pelvic tilt. It’s staying in a more neutral position,” Fredericson added. This way, you’re engaging your muscles and participating in more “active sitting.”
Beyond maintaining good posture while sitting, it’s important to stand and move around for at least five minutes every half hour, according to Fredericson. This can look like going on a walk, heading downstairs for a snack, stretching or switching to your walking pad for a low-stakes call.
“Not only is that going to be good for your hip flexors and your flexibility, but it’s just good for your whole metabolic system,” Fredericson said. “We know the people who do that, their blood pressure is lower. They have less cardiovascular risk factors.”
Exercise can also help, but going to the gym after sitting for eight hours a day, five days a week, isn’t going to counteract your inactivity.
“You might get this false belief that you’re still staying in great shape because you go to that gym, but then you still sit all day — but it doesn’t really work like that,” Fredericson said.
This doesn’t mean your exercise regimen isn’t helpful. For optimal body function, you should practice good sitting posture, get up for movement breaks and follow an exercise regimen. Movement, in general, helps with everything.
“The more active we can be, the fewer problems we have,” McNeal said.
Treating tight hip flexors comes down to a multi-pronged approach, Kracyla added, including stretching, mobility work and strength training. According to the Hospital for Special Surgery, helpful stretches for tight hip flexors include the half-kneeling stretch and the 90/90 stretch. Child’s pose and low-lunge stretch can be beneficial, too.
It’s not enough to hold a stretch for 15 seconds and move on, though. McNeal said you should aim to hold each stretch for 30 seconds and repeat it three times.
If you notice pain or difficulty with movement or stretching, it’s worth talking to a doctor to see if you could benefit from additional support from a physical therapist.
“There is some nuance to it,” Kracyla said, before adding that it often requires a clinical eye to prescribe treatment.
Politics
Politics Home Article | More Tory Councils To Challenge Government Over London Funding Cuts
(Alamy)
2 min read
Exclusive: Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are set to follow Wandsworth in formally appealing cuts to local government following revelations over mammoth council tax rises.
It comes after PoliticsHome revealed that Wandsworth Council was planning on raising council tax by 160 per cent.
Last week, PoliticsHome also revealed that the Conservatives were planning to use the Sustainable Communities Act to submit a formal appeal to ministers asking them to reconsider reforms to local government funding.
On Wednesday, Conservative council leaders in Wandsworth met with Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake and former shadow local government secretary James Cleverly to discuss how they would escalate their response to the new local government funding settlement.
Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea were also at the meeting last week, as they considered launching their own appeals to the government, as well as Lib-Dem-controlled Richmond.
PoliticsHome understands that the Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea councils have now decided to move ahead with these appeals, with all three appeals submitted separately.
Westminster, which like Wandsworth was permitted to raise council tax above five per cent without a referendum for the next two years to raise more revenue, recently warned that it would have to raise council tax by up to 200 per cent to keep spending at current levels.
Under the Sustainable Communities Act, councils can appeal to government over decisions affecting them, following a public consultation. If this appeal is rejected, then the Local Government Association could make its own recommendations to the government on behalf of the council.
Wandsworth, which the Conservatives won from Labour in May, currently has one of the lowest tax rates in the country. But it is projecting a 40 per cent reduction in cuts to its grant funding following the government’s rebalancing of council funding across the country.
The government has said its reforms to local government funding prioritise parts of the country with higher deprivation so that the system is “truly based on need”.
However, the changes will mean less funding for some local authorities in London, with MPs and councillors in the capital warning that the plans will exacerbate cost pressures.
Wandsworth Council previously warned that council tax would have to increase by up to 230 per cent without cuts.
The Wandsworth tax rise is expected to be implemented in April 2027 if it goes ahead, with the rate then being frozen for the rest of the term, PoliticsHome understands.
All eyes are on Zack Polanski after former prime minister Keir Starmer announced he was resigning as a London MP.
The Green Party leader – who is currently a London Assembly member – has repeatedly insisted he would only run to be an MP if a seat in the capital became available.
A Green Party spokesperson then failed to rule out the possibility of Polanski campaigning to replace Starmer in his Holborn and St Pancras constituency on Tuesday, after the ex-PM’s resignation.
They told HuffPost UK: “Zack has always made it clear he would like to be a London MP.
“London has been his home for over 20 years.”
Starmer’s former seat, in north-west London, has only voted in Labour MPs since the constituency was created in 1983.
But there could be signs that enthusiasm for Labour in the area are waning.
Starmer secured a very comfortable majority of 27,763 in 2019 only for it to fall to 11,572 in the 2024 general election.
The Greens came in fourth place in the seat back in 2019 with 2,746 votes.
However, their vote share increased to 4,030 in 2024 and they came in third place behind Labour and an independent candidate.
That suggests there might be a growing appetite for the left-wing party.
Polanski reportedly resides in Hackney, in east London.
However, he has previously refused to run against one of Hackney’s two MPs, telling HuffPost UK he would not to challenge Labour left-winger Diane Abbott in any future by-election.
He said: “I think Diane Abbott’s wonderful, and I’d be highly unlikely to run against her.”
Polanski also declined to stand in any of other three by-elections – Gorton and Denton, Makerfield or Clacton – held in England this year.
The London Assembly member was elected as the Green leader a year ago.
He oversaw a huge boom in popularity for the party, with their membership tripling during his first six months in the post.
However a series of social media missteps, including Polanski’s critiques of the police reaction to the Golders Green attack and his repost of a guillotine t-shirt referencing Nigel Farage, saw the party decline in the opinion polls.
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
Keir Starmer has announced that he will stand down as an MP.
The news of Starmer choosing to leave parliament was first revealed in a report by the CamdenNewJournal. The former prime minister told his local newspaper that he had decided to step down to focus on “international affairs” and that it was the “right time” to leave frontline politics.
Starmer confirmed his decision in a statement on social media.
In the statement, Starmer said he had spent the summer reflecting on his future and that he had decided to “hand the baton over to a successor”.
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He stated: “It’s been an honour and privilege to represent the best constituency in the country since taking over from the great Frank Dobson 11 years ago.
“But it is now time to step aside and focus on other issues: international affairs including defence, security, trade and technology in a fast changing world. I will also continue working with others as I have done over many decades to tackle violence against women and girls. “
He added: “I want to thank my [Constituency Labour Party] team who have always stood firmly by me, and given me the support I needed as I stood for leader of the Labour Party and then as I took my party from political, moral and financial ruin to an historic landslide election win in 2024 and two years as prime minister when we stabilised the economy, rebuilt our public services, invested record amounts in our defence and security, began lifting hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty and transformed Britain’s reputation with international partners…
“There will now be a process to appoint my successor ahead of a by-election. Whoever is lucky enough to become the Labour candidate here will have my full support and backing and I will continue to give my full support to the prime minister and this Labour government.”
Starmer has served as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras since the 2015 general election.
In the 2024 general election for Holborn and St Pancras, Starmer received 18,884 votes, representing 48.9% of the vote share. Independent candidate Andrew Feinstein came second with 7,312 votes (18.9%), while the Green Party candidate, David Stansell, secured 4,030 votes (10.4%). Starmer was duly elected with a majority of 11,572.
Starmer was elected as leader of the Labour Party and leader of the opposition in April 2020. Prior to entering politics, Starmer had a distinguished legal career as a human rights barrister and served as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and head of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013. Starmer was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to law and criminal justice.
Starmer entered office as prime minister following the 2024 general election, which resulted in a spectacular landslide victory for the Labour Party and brought 14 years of Conservative government to a definitive end. Labour secured 411 seats and a commanding House of Commons majority of 174.
Starmer’s resignation as prime minister in June 2026 followed a period of immense political pressure precipitated by the May 2026 local elections and simultaneous elections to the devolved Scottish Parliament and Senedd Cymru. The results of the elections, which were confirmed from 8 to 9 May, sparked an intense political crisis as Labour MPs lined up to call on Starmer to step down/set out a timetable for his departure. In total, over 90 MPs called for Starmer to resign as prime minister.
Matters came to a head on 14 May 2026 when Wes Streeting resigned as secretary of state for health and social care and Josh Simons, a former minister, announced his intention to stand down from parliament. Simons’ resignation was designed to create a vacancy that Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, could exploit to return to parliament.
On 22 June 2026, Starmer announced his resignation as prime minister and Labour leader outside 10 Downing Street, becoming the sixth person to leave the office in 10 years.
Speaking on the steps of Downing Street, Starmer said that he had inherited a Labour Party that was “politically, financially and morally bankrupt” upon his election as leader in 2020. He described entering office as prime minister following the 2024 general election as “the proudest moment of my life.”
In an emotional peroration, reminiscent of Theresa May’s resignation as prime minister, Starmer said it had been an honour to serve the “country I love”. His voice cracked as he paid tribute to his wife, Victoria, and his sons.
Starmer stated: “When I leave the biggest job in the country, I shall spend more time on the most important job. Being the best husband I can to my fantastic wife, Vic, who has been a rock by my side, through good times and bad. And being the best dad I can to my beautiful children, who are my pride and my joy.”
Responding to Starmer’s decision to stand down as an MP, Kevin Hollinrake, the chair of the Conservative Party, said: “Whilst we have disagreed with almost all of Sir Keir Starmer’s decisions, I wish him and his family well for the future.
“It is fitting that his final act as a member of parliament is yet another u-turn having pledged to stay on.
“The decision to stand down will mean a costly by-election for taxpayers at a time when Andy Burnham are John Healey are plotting tax rises on hardworking families across the country.
“The Conservatives look forward to giving the people of Holborn and St Pancras a chance to vote for a stronger economy and a stronger country in the weeks ahead.”
Downing Street has hit back at Donald Trump after he suggested America could withdraw its support for Britain over the Falkland Islands.
The US president said he was “reviewing” his position on the British Overseas Territory.
Argentina claims the Falklands, which it calls the Malvinas, belongs to them.
That is despite the fact that a referendum in 2013, 99.8% of those living there said they wanted to remain British.
At the recent World Cup, Argentina’s players sparked controversy after unfurling a banner saying “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” (the Malvinas are Argentine) after they beat England 2-1 in the semi-final.
America’s official position is that it is neutral on the islands’ sovereignty, which in practice means it supports the status quo.
However, it has been reported that the Trump administration could instead support Argentina’s claim because the president does not believe the UK is spending enough money on defence.
Asked on Monday whether he was reviewing the US’s position, Trump said: “I always review positions, and that’s one of them.”
Responding to Trump’s comments, prime minister Andy Burnham’s official spokesman said: “In the summer we set out our position very clearly and that hasn’t changed
“The Falkland islanders are British, with the right to determine their own future.
“They have expressed their wish to remain a British Overseas Territory and our commitment to them is unwavering.”
The comments put the PM on a collision course with the president as the pair prepare to meet at the United Nations general assembly in New York later this month.
The pair have spoken once on the phone, with Trump describing Burnham as “terrific”.
However, the PM has refused to say he trusts the president, and insisted he will be willing to challenge him if it is in the UK’s national interest.
He said: “I can’t at any point say that I won’t take a different opinion from him, that I will need to voice a different opinion that is right for Britain, and I will do that.”
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
This year, Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) is celebrating a remarkable milestone as the Harwell site marks its 80th anniversary.
Eight decades of scientific achievement, innovation and expertise have helped shape the UK’s nuclear industry, advanced healthcare and energy technologies, and transformed Oxfordshire into a world-renowned centre for science and research.
Today, under the stewardship of NRS, part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group, Harwell continues to play a vital role in delivering safe, sustainable decommissioning while enabling future generations of scientific discovery and economic growth.
Since its establishment in 1946, Harwell has been at the heart of the UK’s scientific progress, evolving from its early role in atomic research to a modern hub for decommissioning expertise and technological advancement.
In its earliest years, Harwell was instrumental in laying the foundations for the UK’s civil nuclear industry. The site hosted some of the country’s first research reactors and laboratories, driving innovation that shaped national energy policy and scientific capability for decades to come.
Harwell became a leader in radiological safety, developing protocols and expertise that have influenced international best practice. This commitment to safety remains central to NRS Harwell’s operations today, underpinning every aspect of its work.
Beyond nuclear research, Harwell has supported projects in advanced fuels, fusion technology and sustainable energy solutions. Its contributions have helped position the UK as a global leader in next-generation energy systems.
The site has also played a vital role in healthcare and industry, pioneering radiopharmaceuticals and isotope production that have supported life-saving treatments and industrial applications worldwide.
Today, NRS Harwell leads the way in safe decommissioning, dismantling legacy facilities with precision and care on behalf of the NDA. Through decades of specialist expertise, the site continues to tackle some of the UK’s most complex nuclear challenges while creating opportunities for regeneration, innovation and economic growth.
So far, decommissioning work has successfully removed more than one million square feet of facility footprint, cleared 1.6 million square feet of land, and enabled 23 hectares to be delicensed and released for redevelopment. This work has helped pave the way for the internationally recognised Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, which today supports thousands of jobs and hundreds of organisations at the forefront of science, technology and research.
Harwell’s remarkable history has also recently been celebrated through a dedicated ITV Meridian mini-series, highlighting the site’s contribution to science, innovation and nuclear expertise over the past eight decades. The series provides a behind-the-scenes look at the people, projects and legacy that have shaped Harwell and is available to watch through ITV Meridian catch-up and on ITV’s YouTube channel.
Gary Reid, Site Director, said:
“Harwell’s 80-year legacy is a testament to the dedication and expertise of everyone who has worked here.
From groundbreaking research to today’s focus on safe decommissioning and innovation, the site has always been at the forefront of progress. We’re proud of our history and excited about what the future holds.”
For more information about NRS Harwell’s history and future ambitions, please visit the NRS GOV page.
Politics
Politics Home | NTS rail freight campaign removes more than 17,000 HGV journeys from Cumbrian roads
Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS), through its rail division Direct Rail Services (DRS), has completed a major rail freight campaign supporting a nationally significant environmental protection project in Cumbria.
The final train carrying essential aggregate for the Southern Trench Interim Membrane (STIM) project arrived at the Low Level Waste (LLW) Repository around a month ahead of schedule.
Since the first train ran in February 2025, NTS has transported approximately 330,000 tonnes of aggregate to the site on over 350 rail services, helping Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) progress critical work to protect the environment and support the long-term management of the UK’s low level radioactive waste.
Delivering the material by rail has generated significant environmental and community benefits. The campaign removed over 17,000 HGV journeys from local roads, preventing more than one million lorry miles through nearby communities.
Throughout the campaign, each train carried the equivalent load of around 36 HGVs, demonstrating the efficiency of rail for transporting bulk construction materials while reducing congestion and vehicle movements on local roads.
The full programme is estimated to have saved more than 700 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared to road, as rail freight can generate up to 76% fewer carbon emissions than equivalent road transport.
Tony Hewitson, Interim Managing Director of NTS Rail, said: “This project is a fantastic example of how rail freight can support major national infrastructure and environmental programmes while delivering tangible benefits for local communities.
“Completing these deliveries ahead of schedule reflects the professionalism and commitment of our colleagues, customers and supply chain partners. It also demonstrates why rail is the obvious choice for moving large volumes of material safely, efficiently and sustainably.”
The aggregate was delivered directly to the repository site’s rail sidings before being transferred onto the trench cap as part of the STIM construction programme.
The STIM project involves replacing the protective membrane covering the southern legacy disposal trenches at the repository. The membrane prevents rainwater from reaching the waste beneath it and is a key step towards the future final capping of the site’s northern trenches.
The successful completion of the campaign marks another example of how NTS is using rail freight to support the UK’s nuclear sector while contributing to wider sustainability goals through the reduction of road traffic and carbon emissions.
Donald Trump has been given a brutal reality check after claiming that Iran’s Kharg Island is “being blown to smithereens”.
The US president posted an AI video on Truth Social claiming to show the energy hub being destroyed.
There is no evidence to back up Trump’s claim – although American forces did attack two rocket launchers on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
Social media users were quick to point out that Trump’s post has absolutely no basis in fact.
One said: “FACT CHECK: Kharg Island was not blown the smithereens.”
The US strikes on Larak Island are the first since Trump paused America’s military campaign in July.
“Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces were observed preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz,” a US official told the Reuters news agency.
Iran responded with an assault on two US bases in Jordan, according to Iranian media.
Attacking Kharg island, which handled 90% of Iran’s oil exports before the war launched by US and Israeli attacks on February 28, would severely disrupt its energy trade and put huge pressure on the country’s economy.
Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how the size of a person’s temporalis (chewing) muscle could reveal their dementia risk.
As it turns out, another muscle measure – our calf size – has been associated with a longer lifespan, too.
This seemed especially true in older adults.
What can your calf size say about your longevity?
In 2021, researchers published a paper after following 796 older adults over nine years.
By the end of the study, 197 of the participants had died. Those with a low BMI (less than 18.5) were at a significantly higher risk of mortality.
And of those studied, older adults with calf circumferences under 31cm seemed to have roughly double the risk of death during the almost-decade-long follow-up period.
The study authors concluded calf circumference “was an independent predictor of mortality”.
A systemic review involving 37 cohort studies, meanwhile, found that for a 1cm increase in calf circumference results, the risk of death decreased by 5%.
Yet another paper suggested that calf circumference is “is a convenient and predictable marker of frailty in older adults,” having shown that the “best cut-off value was 29.5 cm in [men] and 28.5 cm in women”.
Why might calf size matter so much?
We can’t say for sure yet. But some researchers think that it could reveal a person’s level of sarcopenia, or age-related muscle loss.
The lower our muscle mass, especially as we age, the likelier we are to face issues like falls and frailty.
Scientists have learned that stronger, more active calves seem to lower our risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes, too.
How can I strengthen my calf muscles?
Luckily, it’s possible to grow your calves. PureGym suggests two to four training sessions a week.
Some exercises that could help include:
- Calf raises,
- Pogo jumps,
- Skipping,
- Weighted farmer’s carries.
And if you’re a little gym-shy, walking uphill seems to go a long way, too.
Politics
Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine Tour: Setlist, Stage Times, Bag Rules And Everything To Know
One of the year’s most talked-about concert tours is about to come to an end, with Ariana Grande set to take the final bow on her run of Eternal Sunshine live shows.
After three months and 40 shows, the Grammy winner’s Eternal Sunshine world tour concludes on Tuesday night at The O2 Arena, concluding a 10-night residency at the iconic London venue.
HuffPost UK has seen the show, and if you’re lucky enough to have tickets for Ariana’s last night, rest assured that you’re in for an absolutely killer performance, cementing the Petal singer’s place as one of pop’s most dependable performers.
If you are heading to the O2 on Tuesday, though, you may well have some questions, in which case here’s everything you need to know before seeing the Eternal Sunshine tour for its last ever show…
The main thing to know before heading to Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour is that, understandably, there’s a very strict bag policy
The main thing to be aware of before heading to the O2 on Tuesday night is that – for obvious reasons – there are very strict rules around what you’re allowed to bring into Ariana Grande’s tour with you.
With that in mind, the easiest thing to do is to only bring absolutely essentials with you, to avoid needing a bag, as guests are only allowed to bring “one clear bag or a re-sealable clear freezer/zip-lock bag” to the gig.
If you do need to bring a bag, it must be completely clear (although “small logos” are acceptable), and not exceed 30cm x 15cm x 30cm in size.
Exceptions are being made for any “medical, accessibility, parent/child-care related bags or other essential bags”, which are allowed but only after they’ve been inspected by security.
Don’t bring cameras or recording devices in with you, either (although, obviously, camera phones are allowed).
Ralph Bavaro/NBC via Getty Image
What time is Ariana Grande on stage and does she have a support act?
Unlike some of her peers in the pop world, Ariana has been an absolute stickler for time-keeping on her Eternal Sunshine tour, kicking the show off at 8pm sharp and usually being off-stage by just before 10pm.
She doesn’t have a support act – but we’d advise being in your seats for 7.45pm, as there is a special pre-show that we won’t spoil for you, but fans definitely won’t want to miss it.
What’s the setlist for Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour like?
As you might have gleaned from the title, the Eternal Sunshine tour is mostly made up of songs from Ariana Grande’s 2024 album of the same name, including the singles Yes, And?, We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love), The Boy Is Mine and Twilight Zone.
She’s also made sure to include plenty more songs released since her last world tour in 2019, most notably the UK number ones Positions and Rain On Me, as well as hits from earlier on in her career.
Since unveiling her most recent album, Petal, in July, the chart-topping star has also been peppering the setlist with different tracks from that release, with Hate That I Made You Love Me being the sole permanent fixture.
Bad news for Wicked fans, though, as the setlist consists only of hits from Ariana’s solo back catalogue (although that’s not to say there aren’t nods to the movie scattered throughout the show).
We attended on Monday night, and here’s the full list of songs she played, although take note that not all of them will be guaranteed to be performed on Tuesday:
- Yes, And?
- Positions
- Dandelion
- The Boy Is Mine
- Eternal Sunshine
- Just Like Magic
- Thank U, Next
- 7 Rings
- Imperfect For You
- Warm
- Safety Net
- One Last Time
- Rain On Me
- Break Free
- Twilight Zone
- Past Life
- Dangerous Woman
- Freak
- Warning Signs (Interlude)
- Like I Do
- Honeymoon Avenue
- Hampstead
- Into You
- Hate That I Made You Love me
- We Can’t Be Friends (Wait For Your Love) (encore)
- Supernatural (encore)
Hang on, what’s this I’ve heard about Ariana Grande injuring herself?
Yes, hours before her show on Tuesday night, Ariana let fans know that she’d had a little accident and needed to adapt the show accordingly.
“My sweet petals,” she began. “I Wanted to let you know I will need to be in cosy footwear for this evening’s show (and possibly tomorrow’s) as I am bandaged up underneath, recovering from a minor injury.”
“It is not a sprain or anything muscular, just a deep cut!” she quickly added. “So, when you see me tonight, without my signature heels or even possibly having a little trouble putting weight on that foot, that is why!
“But please do not fret. On with the show and I am on the mend!”
Indeed, besides a change in footwear (to retain her signature look, she appeared to adapt some Ugg boots with some knee-length leg-warmers), there were no other signs that Ariana had hurt herself, and the night went off without a hitch.
What else should I expect from Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour?
There’s a reason the Eternal Sunshine tour has so much buzz around it – it’s easily the best live show Ariana has ever been a part of. Fans can look forward to some spectacular setpieces, innovative staging, great choreography and, as mentioned above, a setlist packed with hits.
Of course, the main thing you’re going to an Ariana Grande show for is the vocal performance – and she’s in absolutely tremendous voices, and has arguably never sounded better. After seeing Eternal Sunshine, there’s no question that Ariana is one of the best vocalists of her – or, in fact, any – generation.
As for moments to be aware of, we don’t want to spoil too much, but during the encore rendition of We Can’t Be Friends, audience members have taken it upon themselves to keep completely schtum during the “me and my truth we sit in silence”, so don’t be the one cheering or, worse still, chatting during the last night of the whole tour.
Naturally, there will also be plenty of fans in full costume, so if you were feeling a bit shy about paying homage to the star with your wardrobe, you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing you won’t be the only one.
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Will there be any surprise guests on the last night of Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine tour?
We’d advise keeping your expectations realistic.
So far, Ariana has only had two surprise guests on her tour, the first being when Ty Dolla $ign joined her for a rendition of their collab Safety Net, already a fixture on the set.
Meanwhile, earlier in her London run, Ariana’s Wicked co-star Cynthia Erivo was a surprise guest towards the end of the run, where they performed their duet For Good and a show-stopping reprise of Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again.
Whether or not she’d want to potentially overshadow the last night of the tour with another surprise guest remains to be seen, but it’s probably unlikely.
Keep your eyes peeled for famous faces in the audience, too. We were there on a night when both Wicked star Jeff Goldblum and Ariana’s mum Joan Grande were met with rapturous cheers from the crowd, with other celebs putting in appearances over the course of the Eternal Sunshine run.
How do I get to The O2 for Ariana Grande’s final Eternal Sunshine tour?
Once you’re in London, the easiest way to get to The O2 Arena is on the tube, taking the Jubilee Line to North Greenwich station.
There’s also on-site parking if you wanted to drive and numerous bus options – plus, for the more adventurous, there’s the cable car and even boat options. For more information on that, we’d recommend visiting the venue’s website.
What are Ariana Grande’s plans once her Eternal Sunshine tour is over?
It’s already well-documented that Ariana is planning on taking a step back from the spotlight when her current tour comes to an end.
She first indicated this would be the case during an interview with Amy Poehler on the podcast Good Hang, explaining: “I’m very excited to do this small tour, but I think it might not happen again for a long, long, long, long time. So I’m going to give it my all.
“I think that’s why I’m doing it, because I’m like, ‘One last hurrah. For now’,” she added, noting elsewhere in the interview that the “last 10 or 15 years” of her career “will look very different to the ones that are coming up”.
Amid the furore surrounding her Petal music video at the end of July, Ariana’s team then issued a statement reiterating that she would be “taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour”.
This included pulling out of a planned London revival of the musical Sunday In The Park With George, which would have reunited her with her Wicked co-star Jonathan Bailey.
Her team told People magazine: “[Ariana] looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny.
“This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”
Following this, Ariana clarified on stage: “Sometimes when a story comes out that’s not directly from me, things can get a little blown out of proportion. So I just wanted to speak to my fans directly tonight because I love you so much. The announcement that was made yesterday was not a reactive or impulsive thing.
“It is something that I had decided to plan that I had quietly made a long time ago and it’s a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time.”
She continued: “I want to share this because I heard that my fans were worried that negativity was ruining things for me, but I just have to say that could not be more the fuck opposite. Honestly, this is not what that is.
“And I just want to be very, very clear: Multiple things can be true at the same time. Yes, boundaries, they need to be set. Human beings can need a break sometimes. And also, this [tour] can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life.
“No matter what noises exist out there, nothing will ever be able to distort my reality or be more real to me or elaborate to me than this love that we share. The rest of that shit is not mine to carry, so I don’t carry it.
“I need to get out here and differentiate that from my truth for you all because I love you and this tour has been the most healing, beautiful, corrective, magnificent, special experience of my life.”
Later this year, Ariana will appear alongside Ben Stiller and Robert DeNiro in a reboot of the Meet The Parents series, titled Little Fockers.
HuffPost UK attended Lady Gaga’s Mayhem Ball tour as a guest of Nordic Spirit. Nordic Spirit nicotine pouches are a smoke-free alternative for existing nicotine users aged 18 and over. These convenient nicotine pouches are one hundred percent tobacco-free, with no smoke or vapour. Existing adult nicotine users aged 18 can find out more info here.
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