At Penzance South Pier, I stand in line for the Scillonian ferry with a few hundred others as the disembarking passengers come past. They look tanned and exhilarated. People are yelling greetings and goodbyes across the barrier. “It’s you again!” “See you next year!” A lot of people seem to be repeat visitors, and have brought their dogs along.
I’m with my daughter Maddy and we haven’t got our dog. Sadly, Wilf the fell terrier died shortly before our excursion. I’m hoping a wildlife-watching trip to the Isles of Scilly might distract us from his absence.
One disembarking passenger with a cockapoo and a pair of binoculars greets someone in the queue. “We saw a fin whale,” I hear him say. “Keep your eyes peeled.”
This is exciting information. The Scillonian ferry is reputedly a great platform for spotting cetaceans and it’s a perfect day for it – the sea is calm and visibility is superb. From the deck, the promontory that is Land’s End actually seems dramatic and special, in a way that it doesn’t from dry land. There are several people armed with scopes and sights who are clearly experienced and observant. The only thing lacking is the animals. Not a single dolphin makes an appearance, never mind the others that make regular summertime splashes: humpbacks, minke, sunfish, basking sharks and, increasingly, bluefin tuna.
Arriving in Scilly by ship is worth the crossing: wild headlands, savage rocks, white sand beaches, sudden strips of transcendentally turquoise ocean interspersed with the bronzed pawprints of kelp. Of course, it can be thick mist and squalls, but we’re in luck, the islands are doing their best Caribbean impersonation. Hugh Town, the capital of St Mary’s, is built on the narrow isthmus between two rocky outcrops. It’s a quirky, independent town with the kind of traffic levels our grandparents would recognise.
Up the hill, from the terrace of the Star Castle Hotel, we can see all the islands spread out around us, and handily there’s a lady with a friendly labrador who gives us a pithy summary of each. St Martin’s: “Beach life.” Tresco: “The royals love it.” St Agnes: “Arty.” Bryher: “Wild and natural.”
St Agnes: Scilly has ‘the kind of traffic levels our grandparents would recognise’. Photograph: Image Broker/Alamy
Bryher is our big wildlife destination because the plan is to rent kayaks there and paddle to the uninhabited Samson island, which is a protected wildlife area. I’m banking on Samson for wildlife now that the whales didn’t show up, but first we’re going to explore St Agnes with Vickie from the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.
After a short ferry ride from St Mary’s quay, we stroll around St Agnes and across a short sand spit, a tombolo, to its neighbour, Gugh. Vickie leads us up a heather-covered hillside next to an impressive stack of pink granite boulders. “St Agnes and Gugh used to have a rat problem,” she tells us. “There were an estimated 4,000 that had destroyed the breeding populations of both Manx shearwaters and storm petrels. We’re pretty sure we’ve eradicated them now and the bird populations are rising fast.”
She leans over a small burrow under a lichen-crusted rock, and sniffs. “Yes, that’s storm petrel – they have a distinctive aroma.” Using her phone, she plays a series of cackles and squeaks down the hole. No response.
I ask Vickie about the archipelago’s endemic species. The Scilly bee? “Hasn’t been seen for many years.” She chuckles. “What makes the islands special is often what we don’t have. There are no magpies or buzzards, no foxes or grey squirrels. Those absences are important.”
Agapanthus on Tresco. Photograph: Image Broker/Alamy
What they don’t have in terms of fauna, they certainly make up for in flora. The lanes and paths of St Agnes are a ravishing spectacle: agapanthus and honeysuckle, huge spires of echium and smooth succulent aeoniums from the Canary Islands. In this frost-free environment, all kinds of subtropical plants thrive, making the islands quite unlike anywhere else in the British Isles. Dotted among all this fecundity are artists’ studios, galleries, a pub and a community hall where there’s a wonderful display of shipwreck souvenirs: East India Company musket parts, skeins of silk, porcelain and perfume.
Back on St Mary’s, we swim and spot a seal. But if we imagine our luck is changing, it’s not. Next morning we are down on the quayside, bright and early for the boat to Bryher. “It just left,” says the ticket seller. “We did post the change last night. Very low tide. Had to leave 15 minutes early.”
“When is the next one?”
“There isn’t one.”
The islands, I should have known, are run by the tides. Be warned.
Without any time to think, we jump on the Tresco boat. A fellow passenger offers sympathy. “Last week we missed the boat from St Martin’s and had to spend the night there. It was great.”
I relax. She is right. The best travel adventures come unplanned.
The low tide means we land at Crow Point, the southern tip of Tresco. “Last return boat at five!” shouts the boatman. We wander towards a belt of trees, the windbreak for Tresco Abbey Garden. The eccentric owner of the islands during the mid-19th century, Augustus Smith, was determined to make the ruins of a Benedictine abbey into the finest garden in Britain. Having planted a protective belt of Monterey pine, his gardeners introduced a bewildering array of specimen plants from South Africa, Latin America and Asia: dandelions that are three and a half metres tall, cabbage trees and stately palms. Just to complete the surreal aspect, Smith added red squirrels and golden pheasants, which now thrive.
Now comes the moment, the adventure decision moment. I examine the map of the island and point to the north end: “It looks wilder up there, and there’s a sea cave marked.”
Grey seals on the islands. Photograph: Image Broker/Alamy
We set off. Tresco has two settlements: New Grimsby and Old Grimsby, both clutches of attractive stone cottages decked with flowers. Beyond is a craggy coast that encloses a barren moorland dotted with bronze age cairns and long-abandoned forts. At the north-eastern tip we discover a cave high on the cliffside. Now the low tide is in our favour. We clamber inside, using our phone torches. A ramp of boulders takes us down into the bowels of the Earth, and to our surprise, where the water begins, there is a boat, with a paddle. Behind it the water glitters, echoing away into absolute darkness.
We climb in and set off. Behind us and above, the white disc of the cave entrance disappears behind a rock wall. The sound of water is amplified. After about 50 metres we come to a shingle beach. “How cool is that?” says Maddy. “An underground beach.”
We jump out and set off deeper into the cave, which gets narrower and finally ends. On a rock, someone has placed a playing card: the joker.
Later that day, having made sure we do not miss the last boat back, we meet Rafe, who runs boat trips for the Star Castle Hotel. He takes pity on us for our lack of wildlife. “Come out on my boat tomorrow morning and we’ll see what we can find.”
Rafe is as good as his word. We tour St Martin’s then head out for the uninhabited Eastern Isles. Rafe points out kittiwakes and fulmars, but finally we round the rock called Innisvouls and suddenly there are seals everywhere, perched on rocks like altar stones from the bronze age. “They lie down and the tide drops,” says Rafe. “These are Atlantic greys and the males can be huge – up to 300kg.”
Impressive as the seals are, the islands are better known for birds, regularly turning up rarities. While we are there, I later discover, more acute observers have spotted American cliff swallows that have drifted across the Atlantic, various unusual shearwater species and a south polar skua.
Next day is our return to Penzance, and it’s perfect whale-watching weather. People are poised with binoculars and scopes, sharing tales of awesome previous sightings: the leaping humpbacks, the wild feeding frenzies of tuna, and the wake-riding dolphins. Nothing shows up. I complain, just a little, about our lack of wildlife luck. Maddy is playing with a pair of terriers. “The thing with Wilf was he was always content with whatever happened,” she says. I lounge back on the wooden bench on the port side, enjoying the wind, sun and sound of the sea. I’m channelling the spirit of Wilf. Be happy. Whatever. It’s a lovely voyage anyway. And that’s how I missed the sighting of the fin whale off the starboard side.
The Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’shas double rooms from £249 half-board off-season to £448 in summer; singles from £146 to £244. Woodstock Ark is a secluded cabin in Cornwall, handy for departure from Penzance South Pier (sleeps two from £133 a night). The Scillonian ferryruns March to early November from £75pp. Kayak hire on Bryher £45 for a half day, from Hut 62. For further wildlife information check out the ios-wildlifetrust.org.uk
Australian Defense Secretary Richard Marles (L) and British Defense Secretary John Healey arrive at Admiralty House in Sydney on Friday ahead of unveiling a multi-billion dollar deal to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia in Australia. Photo by Dan Himbrechts/EPA
July 25 (UPI) — Britain and Australia confirmed Friday that they would proceed with a $245 billion nuclear-powered submarine deal as part of a defense pact between the two countries and the United States — despite Washington rethinking its involvement.
Following a meeting, Australian Defense Secretary Richard Marles said he and British Defense Secretary John Healey would sign a 50-year cooperation treaty on Saturday to deliver an Australian fleet of submarines, powered by British nuclear reactors.
Marles hailed the deal, part of a trilateral security pact signed in 2021, as the most significant U.K.-Australian treaty signed in the 124-year history of modern Australia.
The AUKUS alliance, aimed at countering China’s military rise in the Asia-Pacific, called for Australia to be armed with eight nuclear submarines, three repurposed from the United States’ existing fleet and the remainder a new SSN-AUKUS submarine that Australia and Britain would build together.
However, concerns were raised that the first U.S. submarines wouldn’t be handed to Australia within the timeline of the early 2030s because U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reviewing the Biden administration-brokered AUKUS and the U.S. submarine pipeline was behind time.
Healey said they welcomed Hegseth’s review as a chance for the new administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to “renew their commitment,” which he said he fully expected to happen.
Marles said last month that he was “very confident” the United States would remain in AUKUS because of its strategic benefit to all three countries.
The pact came into force three days before Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in January, triggering a review to ensure it is a fit with his “America First” policy.
In a meeting in Singapore in June, Hegseth told Marles that Australia should increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP.
Elbridge Colby, the U.S. defense official carrying out Hegseth’s review, has said AUKUS could compromise national security if the United States were to begin selling its Virginia-class submarines to Australia in the early 2030s, as per the original agreement.
Neither Healey nor Marles would say whether the two countries would go it alone with building the submarines if the United States opted to withdraw.
The Australia-U.K. treaty encompasses a comprehensive framework to develop the necessary infrastructure and workforce in Australia to build, operate and support the submarine program, with the deal providing a boost to British exports of more than $26 billion by 2050.
“Through the treaty, we are supporting high-skilled, well-paid jobs for tens of thousands of people in both the U.K. and Australia,” said Healey.
Australian Strategic Policy Institute senior analyst Euan Graham said the new treaty was not sending a message to the Trump administration but was “more of a reflection that AUKUS has always been a 3-way arrangement, and that the U.K.-Australia side of the triangle is vital to its success.”
He said the program would also produce economies of scale, allowing Britain’s Royal Navy to increase its nuclear fleet from seven to 12 submarines.
LONDON — Former British Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said Thursday he is forming a new left-leaning political party to advocate “mass redistribution of wealth and power” and take on his former colleagues at the ballot box.
The new formation has a website — yourparty.uk — but does not yet have a name.
“It’s your party,” Corbyn said. “We’re going to decide [a name] when we’ve had all the responses, and so far the response rate has been massive.”
Corbyn said he hoped the new party would have its inaugural conference in the fall.
Corbyn, 76, led Labor to election defeats in 2017 and 2019, but the veteran socialist campaigner remains popular with many grassroots supporters. and the new party has the potential to further fragment British politics. The long-dominant Labor and Conservative parties now have challengers on both left and right, including the environmentalist Green Party and hard-right Reform UK.
Plans for a new party emerged earlier this month when lawmaker Zarah Sultana, who has been suspended from Labor for voting against the government, said she would “co-lead the founding of a new party” with Corbyn.
At the time, Corbyn did not confirm the news.
On Thursday he denied the party launch had been messy, saying the process was “democratic, it’s grassroots and it’s open.”
A longtime supporter of the Palestinians and critic of Israel, Corbyn was suspended from Labor in 2020 after Britain’s equalities watchdog found anti-Jewish prejudice had been allowed to spread within Labor while he was leader.
He was suspended after failing to fully accept the findings¸ claiming opponents had exaggerated the scale of antisemitism in Labor for “political reasons.”
Corbyn was reelected to Parliament last year as an independent.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer succeeded Corbyn as Labor leader in 2020 and dragged the party back toward the political center ground. He dropped Corbyn’s opposition to Britain’s nuclear weapons, strongly backed sending weapons to Ukraine and stressed the party’s commitment to balancing the books.
Starmer won a landslide election victory a year ago, but has struggled to maintain unity among Labor lawmakers as the government struggles to get a sluggish economy growing and invest in overstretched public services. He has been forced into a series of U-turns by his own lawmakers, including one on welfare reform that left his authority severely dented.
Stéphane Jouin, who moved to the UK nine years ago, shared the revelation in a video for his YouTube channel, ‘A French guy in England’, which showcases the two nations’ “cultural quirks”
Stéphane Jouin left his life in France behind and moved to the UK nine years ago (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
A French expat living in the UK has named a particular aspect of British culture that’s left him “amazed”. Stéphane Jouin, who swapped France for the UK nine years ago, divulged his findings on his YouTube channel ‘A French guy in England‘, which delves into the “cultural quirks” of both countries.
In his video, ‘6 Things I Really Appreciate as a French Guy in England’, Stéphane shared his observations from nearly a decade in Britain, touching on aspects such as our politeness and tendency to be “merciful”.
Among these UK insights, he highlighted his admiration for the British propensity for kindness, a trait he finds “amazing” and notes is even promoted by companies and organisations here. Stéphane expressed: “Number two is that people tend to be kind.”
He elaborated: “I’m actually amazed that people are generally ready to help. For example, if you’re stranded with your car on the road, and your bonnet is open – they call it ‘hood’ in the USA – they will come to ask you if you are okay, if you need any help. I find this amazing.”
Stéphane added that acts of kindness are “part of everyday life here.” He also pointed out that the UK is home to many charities that support people suffering from health issues.
Stéphane explained how an expression of this quality is encouraged (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
He pointed out that British firms and groups are known for rallying people to join events they organise to raise money for charitable causes.
On the flip side, in May, a Brit living in France took to TikTok to share five reasons why life across the Channel is “better.” The expat, known as Alex or “It’s moi” on the platform, presented her “household edition” of insights.
First up was the revelation that people in France tend not to have their washing machines in the kitchen, instead opting for the bathroom or elsewhere, meaning you “don’t have the eyesore or the noise” in the kitchen.
But there’s more; Alex also highlighted the convenience of having plug sockets in the bathroom, “square-shaped” pillows for extra headroom, and shutters on every window.
Alex said: “You don’t have to worry about blackout blinds or blackout curtains if you want to make the room dark. You just close the shutters, which is absolutely fantastic when you have children.”
Stéphane revealed some of the observations he’d made in his years in Britain (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
Finally, Alex claimed that a “lot of the houses around here” tended to be detached rather than semi-detached. She said they didn’t have to worry about any “potential noise problems” from neighbours.
However, not everyone saw things the same way, with one commenting: “I’d hate to have a washing machine in my bathroom.”
Another said: “How is square pillows better? Isn’t plugs in the bathroom dangerous?”
Some did agree with the TikToker, with one claiming that once you try using a square pillow, there’s “no going back”.
With golden beaches and crystal-clear waters to a vibrant shopping scene and rich history, this charming coastal town has it all – and it’s only 90 minutes from London
This coastal gem needs to be on your bucket list(Image: Chris Mansfield via Getty Images)
A quaint seaside town that feels like you’ve been transported back in time has been crowned one of the UK’s prettiest – and it’s easy to see why. Situated on the idyllic South East England coast, where the North Sea meets the English Channel, lies the charming coastal town of Deal, Kent.
Just 90 minutes from London, and eight miles north-east of Dover’s famous white cliffs – this underrated destination is jam-packed with natural beauty and classic attractions. With a three-mile shingle beach that effortlessly melts into crystal clear waters, Deal is the perfect place to soak up the rays with a good book or get adventurous and try your hand at windsurfing.
Deal Beach is the perfect place to watch sunset with a well-deserved portion of fish and chips(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
On a clear day, you’ll also be able to spot France, especially if you walk along the 313-metre ‘brutalist’ pier that first opened in 1957.
“Quaint, quirky and one of the most charming coastal towns in Kent, Deal in White Cliffs Country is steeped in history,” hails Visit South East England. “See a fantastic range of maritime exhibits at Deal Museum, the Timeball Tower Museum or explore one of the historic castles in Deal and Walmer… and explore the maze of narrow streets and alleyways, renowned for smuggling during the 18th century.”
Deal also boasts a vibrant shopping scene, with a bustling high street and the Deal Saturday Market, which sells everything from fresh local food to jewellery, vintage clothes, and furniture. Then, head over to Middle Street, known for its iconic colourful Georgian Homes, for some much-needed pub grub.
The charming town is known for its annual flower festival(Image: GordonBellPhotography via Getty Images)
With all of this in mind, it’s no surprise The Independent recently ranked Deal as one of the best day trips from the Big Smoke. “The glistening pebble beach is lined with a rainbow of pastel-shaded 17th-century fishermen’s cottages and grand Victorian abodes, and the award-winning high street is chock full of interesting restaurants, shops and delis,” the publication wrote.
“Picnic-wise, fish and chips from Middle Street Fish Bar are a must, or for something fancier, pick up a gourmet spread (think ciabatta with mackerel and house pickled cucumber) from grocers Arno & Co.”
Located just under 83 miles from central London, it only takes two hours and nine minutes to drive down to Deal. However, direct train journeys slash the journey time down to just one hour and 25 minutes. If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab an adult single fare for as little as £18.30.
You can get to Deal from London for less than £20(Image: Patrick Donovan via Getty Images)
There is a wide range of accommodation types in Deal, from cosy B&Bs to luxury holiday homes. For example, a weekend’s stay at The Kings Head – an traditional pub turned inn located in the heart of the town – will set you back just £270. However, this is only based on one adult staying in a single room.
If you’re looking for something a bit more stylish and spacious, check out The Watchmaker’s House. This four-bedroom house boasts a chic interior, a fully equipped kitchen, log burner, private patio – and sleeps up to seven people. Staying here on the exact same dates costs £1,365.
*Prices based on Trainline and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.
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July 17 (UPI) — Britain and Germany signed a treaty Thursday to stand together on defense and migration, among other matters.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Thursday and held a joint press conference in London to discuss what has been dubbed the “Kensington Treaty,” a 30-article document that promises cooperation on several aspects.
“I’m working with Germany to deliver results for British people,” Starmer posted to X Thursday. Merz also posted online, and wrote that the treaty marks “a historic day for German-British relations.”
A specific focus of the accord is on defense, as the document identifies “the Russian Federation’s brutal war of aggression on the European continent as the most significant and direct threat to their security.”
Both nations reaffirmed their commitment to NATO, but the treaty declared that the two would “pursue deep exchanges on strategic aspects of security policy,” and shall “increase cooperation on intelligence and national security capabilities in order to contribute effectively to this goal.”
Another facet of the pact deals with migration issues, in which the United Kingdom and Germany will lock in an annual “Home Affairs dialogue at senior official level” which would deal with crimes related to “migrant smuggling and border security.”
“Germany has committed to change their law so we can disrupt the supply of small boats,” Starmer also noted on social media Thursday. “We will smash the people smuggling gangs and secure our borders.”
According to the treaty, both countries “will support the provision of mutual legal assistance and the prosecution of offenders involved in the smuggling of migrants into and between the two countries.”
The document also commits that the two nations will expand on this bilateral bond by seeking “to intensify the trilateral cooperation with the French Republic, as well as their cooperation with other partners, and within multilateral formats such as the G7 and the United Nations, in order to jointly address international challenges.”
During Tuesday’s instalment of Good Morning Britain, presenters Charlotte Hawkins and Richard Madeley shared the latest headlines with ITV viewers
Things took an emotional turn on Tuesday’s (July 15) instalment of Good Morning Britain.
During the programme, ITV viewers saw hosts Charlotte Hawkins and Richard Madley speak to a man called Tristan, who recently lost his wife to breast cancer.
Before her death, Dr Susan Michaelis campaigned for there to be research into lobular breast cancer, after living with the disease for 14 years.
While speaking to Tristan on the show, it seemed as though Charlotte was overcome with emotion as the interview wrapped up.
Good Morning Britain’s Charlotte Hawkins apologised as she held back tears during an emotional interview(Image: ITV)
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BRITAIN faces war with Russia within the next five years, the previous head of the British Army has warned.
Former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders, 59, said the UK must accept that armed conflict with Vladimir Putin by 2030 is a “realistic possibility”.
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Former Chief of the General Staff General Sir Patrick Sanders said the UK must accept that armed conflict with Putin by 2030 is a ‘realistic possibility’Credit: Alamy
Gen Sir Patrick, who retired from the military last year, cautioned that the Army is currently too small to survive more than the first few months of such a war.
And he added that he did not know how many more “signals” ministers needed to realise it must strengthen the nation’s defences.
He said: “If Russia stops fighting in Ukraine, you get to a position where within a matter of months they will have the capability to conduct a limited attack on a Nato member that we will be responsible for supporting, and that happens by 2030.
“I don’t know what more signals we need for us to realise that if we don’t act now and we don’t act in the next five years to increase our resilience … I don’t know what more is needed.”
The former rifleman fell out of favour with the Government while leading the Army for being seen as too outspoken against troop cuts.
It was announced under the previous government that the Army would be reduced from just over 80,000 personnel as of October 2020 to 72,500 by 2025.
Gen Sir Patrick said: “At the moment, the British Army is too small to survive more than the first few months of an intensive engagement, and we’re going to need more.
“Now the first place you go to are the reserves, but the reserves are also too small.
“Thirty thousand reserves still only takes you to an army of 100,000.
“You know, I joined an Army in the Cold War that was about 140,000 regulars, and on top of that, a much larger reserve.”
Nato jets scrambled as Putin launches one of war’s biggest attacks in Ukraine
Gen Sir Patrick said he was disappointed the Strategic Defence Review published last month “didn’t touch on this at all”.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves last month committed to the defence budget rising to 2.6 per cent of the UK’s GDP by April 2027.
And PM Sir Keir Starmer pledged the UK would spend 5 per cent of GDP on national security within 10 years, with 3.5 per cent of that amount going to core defence matters.
But Sir Gen Patrick said that during his time at the head of the Army there had been unsuccessful “conversations” with the government about building bomb shelters for civilians and underground command centres for the military to prepare for an attack.
He said: “It always came down to a conversation of it being too costly and not a high enough priority and the threat didn’t feel sufficiently imminent or serious to make it worth it.
“Finland has bomb shelters for 4.5 million people. It can survive as a government and as a society under direct missile and air attacks from Russia. We don’t have that.”
Despite the biggest threat coming from Russia, Gen Sir Patrick also warned that Iran could act through proxies “to attack British interests in the UK”.
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UK faces war with Putin’s Russia within the next five years, the previous head of the British Army has warnedCredit: EPA
Migrants crammed into a small, inflatable dinghy cross the English Channel from France in March 2024. Britain and France inked a deal Thursday aimed at deterring people from making the journey under a pilot scheme that would see them sent right back, though the numbers that would be affected were not announced. File photo by Tolga Akmen/EPA-EFE
July 11 (UPI) — British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Friday she expected Brussels to back a new so-called “one-in, one-out” deal with France aimed at curbing the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Cooper said she was confident the European Commission would endorse the pilot scheme signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during a state visit after Paris said it needed legal authorization.
The deal, which would see France take back migrants from Britain for the first time in an arrangement under which one migrant who arrives without permission is returned for each migrant with a legal asylum claim in France that Britain takes in, must also be approved by the other 26 EU countries.
Speaking to a London radio station, she added that she didn’t believe the scheme would be blown off track by resistance from countries fearful they might end up dealing with returned migrants, particularly frontline nations Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Italy and Malta which bear the brunt of migration from Africa and the Middle East and beyond.
“We have been talking to the EU commissioners. We’ve also been talking to other European interior ministers and governments throughout this process. The French interior minister and I have been speaking about this, to develop this, since October of last year, and the EU commissioners have been very supportive,” Cooper said.
“So that is why we have designed this in a way to work, not just for the U.K. and France, but in order to fit with all their concerns as well.”
However, Brussels said Friday that it needed more information regarding the “substance and form” of the deal to be able to form a view on its legality before endorsing the plan, saying it needed to comply with EU law, both in spirit and practice.
“What we have now is an announcement and a political agreement, in principle, to have a pilot agreement,” said an EU commission spokesman.
“Once we know more about the substance and the form of that, we can tell you more about it, but we will look at this together with U.K. and France we will be working with all parties involved.”
Cooper also insisted she was confident the plan would hold up against legal challenges that caused years of delays that ultimately sank a previous “deterrence” strategy championed by then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak involving sending irregular migrants to Rwanda.
Shadow Home Secretary, Conservative MP Chris Philp, condemned the scheme as a publicity stunt.
“Starmer’s deal yesterday is a gimmick that won’t work, just like his ‘smash the gangs’ claim (now never mentioned) was a gimmick that didn’t work,” he said in a post on X.
The deal announced Thursday has been short on details, apart from stressing it would dismantle the business model of the criminal gangs smuggling people to Britain in often unseaworthy small dinghies, but the BBC said 50 people would be exchanged each week, initially.
A news release from the Home Office, Downing Street and the Border Force said the plan will be rolled out in tandem with action on so-called “pull factors,” such as the ability to find work illegally, that make Britain so attractive to migrants, which was repeatedly raised by Macron and the French side during his visit.
The government pledged a “major nationwide blitz targeting illegal working hotspots, focusing on the gig economy and migrants working as delivery riders.”
“The U.K. will go further by changing the law to support a clampdown on illegal working in the gig economy. New biometric kits will be rolled out for Immigration Enforcement teams so they can do on-the-spot checks,” the statement added.
Cost-cutting measures at ITV have resulted in a huge change for its daytime scheduling as 220 jobs are at risk and hit shows and presenters are facing a major shakeup
23:49, 08 Jul 2025Updated 23:56, 08 Jul 2025
Richard Arnold’s future at ITV has been revealed
ITV is set to make a huge change to their daytime scheduling, with jobs being put at risk – however, one star is reportedly safe from the cuts. The big changes have left staff, as well as viewers, unsure of what the future holds for their favourites on the channel.
They have decided to overhaul Loose Women and Lorraine as part of new cost-saving measures. From 2026, Lorraine Kelly’s morning programme will be shortened to a 30-minute slot, airing from 9.30am to 10am instead of its current hour-long format. It will also only be broadcast for 30 weeks out of the year, meaning the stand-in hosts who currently replace Lorraine when she is on holiday will be out of a job. Loose Women is also facing significant changes, and will soon only be airing “on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year” according to ITV bosses.
Richard Arnold has worked on Good Morning Britain since 2014
The risks to jobs has left some fans wondering if their favourites could be axed. Thankfully, for those who love a bit of showbiz gossip from Good Morning Britain’s guru Richard Arnold, they have nothing to worry about.
He has reportedly kept his job amid the sweeping changes at ITV as some 220 staff face redundancies. Richard has fronted the entertainment news on the ITV morning show since it launched in 2014.
According to reports, he has been told he is safe along with his team, who are known as “RAP” for Richard Arnold Producers. A source told The Sun: “Richard is one of ITV daytime’s best-loved faces never mind on GMB.
“Viewers enjoy his slots and he remains very much part of the furniture.” Richard’s Good Morning Britain co-stars Andi Peters and Jeff Brazier haven’t had as much luck, however.
The pair have been lucky enough to call flying to far-out luxury locations part of their job, yet it won’t be for much longer. They would often pop up in some far flung location, encouraging viewers to try their luck and be in with a chance of winning thousands of pounds on shows, including Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
Yet, ITV will, reportedly, no longer be shelling out for presenters such as Andi and Jeff to sun themselves on sun-kissed beaches while working for the broadcaster in its latest cost-cutting exercise.
This year alone, Andi has broadcast from the Maldives, Australia, Cape Town and Florida while Jeff has jetted off to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malta.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, announced the changes in May, where he had said the changes were necessary to “generate savings”.
He said: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.
“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”
“Some staff believe Loose Women and Lorraine in particular will enter a death spiral… it’s just so sad. Just a handful of people will be working on each of those two programmes which has huge ramifications for how they are going forward.”
The Mirror has contacted ITV and Richard’s representatives for comment.
Great Britain finished fifth overall at the European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid.
The GB team, captained by discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, finished on 381 points, 3.5 points behind the Netherlands in fourth and three points ahead of sixth-placed Spain.
Sarah Tait, making her international debut, was one of the standout performers on the final day, adding 15 points to GB’s tally with a second-placed finish in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase – just three hundredths of a second behind Finland’s Ilona Mononen.
There were also third-place finishes for Revee Walcott-Nolan in the women’s 1500m and Toby Harries in the men’s 200m.
Bekah Walton, who had surgery on her throwing arm just five months ago, threw 58.63m to finish fourth in the women’s javelin, while Scott Lincoln also finished fourth in the men’s shot put.
Jazmin Sawyers continued her comeback from a 20-month lay-off with an Achilles injury with a sixth-placed finish in the women’s long jump.
In the final event of the night, the 4x400m mixed relay team of Lina Nielsen, Toby Harries, Emily Newnham and Samuel Reardon finished finished third with a time of three minutes 9.6 seconds – the same time as second-placed Italy – to earn GB their final 14 points.
On Friday, 21-year-old Reardon set a championship record and ran a personal best time of 44.60 to win the 400m.
The time places the double Olympic bronze medallist seventh on the all-time list for European under-23s.
Eugene Amo-Dadzie, nicknamed the ‘world’s fastest accountant’, clocked 10.07 as he claimed top spot in the men’s 100m.
Italy successfully defended the crown they won in Poland in 2023.
Great Britain and Ireland defeated the Continent of Europe to seal a first Vagliano Trophy victory since 2005.
Following the Curtis Cup win over the United States last September, the GB&I women again held their nerve in the biennial match, winning 12½-11½ at the Royal Hague Golf & Country Club in the Netherlands.
Led by non-playing captain Maria Dunne, GB&I found themselves trailing by one heading into the singles with Europe claiming two early wins.
However, the GB&I team fought back with the English trio of Patience Rhodes, Nellie Ong and Isla McDonald-O’Brien all scoring wins before Ireland’s Aine Donegan and another England player, Sophia Fullbrook, took GB&I over the winning line in a remarkable finish to claim a first win in 20 years.
“It’s been an unbelievable day,” said Dunne.
“I said to the team early this morning that I had a really good feeling about today. They did the job in the foursomes, momentum went our way and they just fought. I told them last night ‘just keep fighting, keep fighting for every single point or half point’ and that’s exactly what they did.”
Rhodes, Donegan, Beth Coulter, Lottie Woad and Hannah Darling were all part of the team which won the Curtis Cup and all played their part once again.
Woad and Coulter lost to Paula Martin Sampedro and Carolina Lopez-Chacarra Coto respectively, but things began to turn GB&I’s way with Ong’s 6&5 victory, and McDonald-O’Brien edged out Camille Min-Gaultier 2&1 to pull the visitors closer, before Rhodes delivered another crucial point with a two-hole triumph over France’s Sara Brentcheneff.
A mix of stories grace the front pages of Saturday’s papers. “Britain will bake in 36C heat” declares the Daily Express as it reports on the “heat dome” engulfing Europe. The paper says sweltering temperatures on Monday could make it “the hottest June day ever” and the highest in three years. In contrast, Emma Raducanu is pictured alongside as “all smiles in the Wimbledon sun”.
The NHS’s new boss has criticised the health service for viewing patients as “an inconvenience” and “built mechanisms to keep them away”, the Daily Telegraph reports. In an interview with the paper, Sir Jim Mackey says the NHS is too often “deaf to criticism” and has “made it really hard” for patients to get the care they need. Also looming on the front page is a photograph of newly married couple Amazon tycoon Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez in her wedding gown. The pair’s opulent £154bn ceremony in Italy took place on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore on Friday.
The Times follows with their NHS story on patients having a greater say on how much hospitals are paid by rating their treatment experiences. In plans to “rewire” the health service, pay for doctors and nurses will be linked to patient satisfaction and a hospital’s ability to bring down waiting lists, the paper reports. An interview with Sir Rod Stewart is also previewed with the singer offering his political assessment, saying “we’re fed up with the Tories”.
The Financial Times leads with Sir Keir Starmer’s “welfare climbdown” as it says the PM has “blown a £4.25bn hole” in his budget after retreating on cuts to disability benefits and pensioner subsidies. The paper warns the move could raise the likelihood of further tax hikes and risks damaging the government’s credibility with investors. Elsewhere, the “A-listers and hecklers” who flocked to Bezos’s Venice wedding extravaganza also earns a prime photo spot.
Supermarkets will be required to promote fruits and vegetables instead of junk food under new plans, the i Paper says. It reports that Labour ministers are drawing up proposals to push shoppers to make healthier choices and stores will need to report on how successful they are at persuading customers to “swap potatoes for sweet potatoes”.
The Daily Mail promotes their Stop The SAS Betrayal campaign with new backing from a former royal aide and SAS officer. The paper is calling for Northern Ireland veterans who served during the Troubles to be protected from “legal which hunts”. Sharing the top spot is a smiling Raducanu, with the Mail teasing the “tantalising clues” that reveal the tennis star has found a “love match” with a Wimbledon champion.
An exclusive in the Sun says police are under fire for wasting time investigating “non-crime hate incidents”, including the case of a man singing the Flower of Scotland anthem at an English railway station. The paper sums up the affair as a “tartan barmy”.
The Daily Mirror spotlights the “heartbreaking tribute” by Daniel Anjorin’s father, after the schoolboy’s killer was jailed for 40 years. Dr Ebenezer Anjorin remembers his son as a “kind and generous spirit that touched everyone who knew him”.
Finally, the Daily Star features Luke Littler’s “Darty in the USA” as the darts player says he is ready to “crack America” with his “arrows heroics” across the pond.
June 25 (UPI) — Britain is purchasing at least a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons from the United States and will be joining NATO’s dual-capable aircraft nuclear mission.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to make the announcement Wednesday, during the final day of the three-day NATO summit being held at The Hague.
“The UK’s commitment to NATO is unquestionable, as is the alliance’s contribution to keeping the UK safe and secure, but we must all step up to protect the Euro-Atlantic area for generations to come,” Starmer said in a statement.
He added that the addition of the F-35A aircraft “will herald a new era for our world-leading Royal Air Force and deter hostile threats that threaten the UK and our allies.”
The F-35A fighter jet is a Lockheed Martine aircraft that replaced the U.S. Air Forces’ F-16 Fighting Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II, and packs 43,000 pounds of thrust.
According to 10 Downing Street, the newly purchased fighters will be based at Royal Air Force Marham, with expectations that London will procure 138 of them over the lifetime of the program.
NATO’s nuclear deterrence policy and force rely on the United States’ nuclear arsenal that has been deployed to Europe. According to the defensive military alliance, a number of countries have contributed dual-capable aircraft to the mission “and are available at various levels of readiness.”
The announcement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has been pressing NATO partners to do more to support their own defense and to rely less on Washington.
The famous Northfield Beach festival was cancelled in 2024 due to lack of funding but the community has rallied to bring it back to life just in time for Summer 2025
Northfield Beach is back at Victoria Common for summer 2025
For over ten years, the manmade beach in a city suburb has been a hub for families of all ages to gather and enjoy. The Northfield Beach festival is a free event that features arts and crafts, theatre acts, circus performances, live music and more.
The festival has been a longstanding summer staple, but, regrettably, the 2024 event was scrapped due to lack of funding. Luckily, it’s set to make a triumphant return in 2025, thanks to tireless efforts from the local community.
2024’s cancellation left many families downhearted, prompting organisers at Northfield Community Partnership to initiate a Crowdfunder to resurrect the beloved event. Northfield Community Partnership gained charitable status in July 2014 and for 14 years, it has delivered a range of services from its hub in the heart of Northfield.
Rebecca Debenham, CEO of Northfield Community Partnership, made an emotional plea on the Crowdfunder: “We know how disappointed many families were last year that we were unable to bring you the Beach.”, reported Birmingham Live.
Northfield Beach has been called one of the “most inclusive” events in Birmingham
“This year, we need your support to help bring the Beach back! Please consider donating to our funding appeal. No matter how small your donation is, it will help us make sure we can bring the Beach back. Let’s work together to ensure this much-loved tradition returns! Thank you.”
Excitement buzzes as it’s been confirmed the beach will reconvene for summer 2025. The fundraiser marches on, aiming to finance a spectacular array of events for families to revel in. Donations are still welcome on the Crowdfunder page.
The Crowdfunder page is full of glowing and heart-warming dedications to the festival, outlining its importance to the city. “There were so many inclusive and accessible activities for everyone to enjoy! It’s heart-warming to see such dedication to making sure everyone feels included and can have a blast,” wrote one community member.
The festival celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2022(Image: Birmingham Mail)
Another shared: “So great to bring wheelchair dance to the people of south Birmingham. Hooray for inclusive community events inspiring the next generation of disabled dancers!”
One community member called Northfield Beach “the most inclusive event” they’ve been to in all of Birmingham while another applauded the “thoughtful” event.
When is Northfield Beach 2025?
Mark your calendars, the event will run from July 24 to 27. It will take place in Victoria Common, Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham B31 2BB.
There’s a car park on Church Road and additional parking at Northfield Shopping Centre, which also provides access to the park. Visitors can easily catch the bus there too.
The park boasts a playground, an outdoor gym, a football pitch and open fields perfect for games and picnics.
As Europe’s coastal hotspots grapple with the strain of overtourism, many Brits are seeking summer retreats closer to home. And one UK location fits the bill perfectly.
Ringstead Bay has been dubbed an ‘unspoilt beach‘ by the National Trust, offering breathtaking beauty without the tourist crowds. While Weymouth’s golden sands and lively promenade in Dorset attract over 3.7 million visitors each year, according to local council figures, nearby Ringstead Bay provides a peaceful alternative.
Nestled between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove, this tranquil shingle beach has been recognised as one of England’s least crowded coastal getaways, perfect for those seeking respite from the hustle and bustle.
Ringstead Bay is well-suited for serene, sea-side strolls(Image: Milos Ruzicka via Getty Images)
Laura Miller, marketing head at Away Resorts, said: “If you’re seeking a tranquil and secluded beach in Dorset, Ringstead Bay stands out as a hidden gem.” Miller continues: “Nestled between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove, this quiet shingle and pebble beach offers clear waters, scenic coastal walks, and a peaceful atmosphere, making it ideal for those looking to escape the crowds.”
Just six miles from Ringstead lies the historic town of Weymouth, one of the UK’s oldest and most charming seaside resorts, reports the Express. It features a Georgian seafront, a vibrant harbour brimming with pubs and cafes, and traditional family attractions like donkey rides and Punch and Judy shows.
The Bay sits within the iconic Jurassic Coast(Image: Paul Mabbott via Getty Images)
The town’s rich maritime history adds depth to its cheerful seaside allure. Despite the bustling popularity of Weymouth, Ringstead Bay has managed to retain its untouched charm.
It’s less commercialised, offering limited amenities but an abundance of raw, natural beauty that’s ideal for a more tranquil day out. The bay is nestled within the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its fossil-rich cliffs and striking geological formations.
Those who venture the short distance from Weymouth to Ringstead are rewarded with open space, stunning sea views, and the soothing sound of waves. So if you are planning a British beach holiday this summer, this lesser-known gem near one of the south coast’s most picturesque towns is certainly worth the detour.
Beyond Weymouth and Ringstead, there are a wealth of places to discover along the West Dorset coast. Another gem to stop-by if you’re planning a multi-town trip is the seaside resort of Lyme Regis. The town is home to golden sand beaches as well as a picturesque harbour.
Lyme Regis also has safe bathing waters protected by the iconic Cobb, which you may recognise from the film The French Lieutenant’s Woman. The town’s nickname is ‘The Pearl of Dorset’ and one of its biggest events is the annual Fossil Festival every May – which includes talks, walks, live music and theatre.
