UK

Journalist alerts police over Huntley's suspicious account

Journalist Brian Farmer reported to the police after an interview with Ian Huntley raised suspicions about his account regarding the disappearance of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002. Huntley, now 52 and serving a life sentence for their murders, is currently in critical condition after being attacked by another inmate at HMP Frankland, where he was found with serious head injuries.

Josh Simons resigns amid Labour Together controversy

Josh Simons has resigned as a Cabinet Office minister following allegations that the think tank Labour Together, which he previously led, paid PR firm Apco Worldwide £36,000 to investigate journalists who reported negatively on the organization. Although an investigation by ethics adviser Sir Laurie Magnus found no breach of the Ministerial Code, Simons acknowledged that his continued presence in office had become a distraction from the government's work. Sir Keir Starmer accepted Simons' resignation, expressing gratitude for his service.

Labour's Powell claims Burnham could have won by-election

Lucy Powell, Labour's deputy leader, stated that Andy Burnham would probably have won the Gorton and Denton by-election had he been allowed to stand, following Labour's fall to third place in a seat it had held for nearly a century. The Greens secured their fifth seat in Parliament, while Reform UK came second, prompting renewed scrutiny of the party's decision to block Burnham's candidacy due to concerns over the cost of a mayoral by-election. Powell, the only member of Labour's National Executive Committee to support Burnham's bid, emphasized the need for the party to better utilize his popularity in Greater Manchester.