Tom Burnett

Andy Burnham received more than £325,000 in donations and other support between May and July before entering No 10, according to newly released transparency data. Contributions included £164,347 from Lord Sainsbury, £35,000 from Sacha Lord, £25,000 from Gary Lubner, £50,000 from a company run by TV producer Charlie Parsons, and support from ThinkLabour and Ernst & Young. Burnham also declared tickets from Sony Music and Glastonbury attendance, as well as a London rental property. The Labour Party said all declarations complied with parliamentary and Electoral Commission rules.

A couple and their teenage daughter died after four members of the same family got into difficulty in the water near Shoreham Fort off Shoreham-by-Sea. Emergency services brought all four people ashore, but the man, woman and teenage girl were pronounced dead despite paramedics’ efforts. A younger girl remains in critical condition in hospital.

Five teenagers died and four people, including a child, were seriously injured when a stolen BMW travelling the wrong way on the M9 in County Kildare collided head-on with a family’s car. Taoiseach Micheál Martin condemned the reckless driving and said there could be no tolerance for behaviour allegedly encouraged by social-media attention. The Garda Representative Association said police had been instructed not to pursue the vehicle, described the split-second operational dilemma facing officers, and called for better training and a review of sentencing. Communities in Athy, Carlow and surrounding areas expressed shock and grief, while the crash renewed concern after a similar wrong-way collision on Dublin’s M50 the previous weekend.

A man died and two HGV drivers were seriously injured after a collision involving three lorries and a car on the M6 northbound between junctions 15 and 16 near Newcastle-under-Lyme. A fourth HGV driver was uninjured. The motorway was closed for much of the day, while Staffordshire Police appealed for CCTV and dashcam footage from witnesses.

Five young men are reported to have died after a BMW travelling the wrong way on the M9 near Athy, County Kildare, collided head-on with a car carrying an extended family. Three women and a seven-year-old child in the other vehicle were injured, with the child suffering a broken leg. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly condemned wrong-way driving, noted concerns that some drivers may do it for social-media attention, and said An Garda Síochána would cooperate with the Fiosrú investigation.

Jason Arday has resigned with immediate effect as Professor of Sociology at the University of Cambridge and from his role at Jesus College, citing the personal toll of sustained public scrutiny. His resignation follows media allegations, including claims reported by The Daily Telegraph, that he plagiarised parts of his PhD thesis and other research. Cambridge has launched an investigation into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments, while separate academic-misconduct complaints remain ongoing; Jesus College is conducting its own process.

The EuroMillions draw on Tuesday, August 4, offered an estimated £84 million jackpot, with a guaranteed £1 million Millionaire Maker prize. The winning numbers were 25, 30, 34, 46 and 50, with Lucky Stars 1 and 12. Tickets cost £2.50 and could be purchased until 7:30pm, with the draw held at about 8:15pm.

Donald Trump said he expects a strong relationship with Andy Burnham and urged the UK to expand North Sea oil and gas production, arguing that energy development and tighter immigration controls would improve Europe’s fortunes. Burnham has said he will take a pragmatic approach to the North Sea, despite Labour’s 2024 pledge not to issue new licences. The UK Government is considering projects including the Jackdaw gas field and Rosebank oilfield, while environmental campaigners warn approval would breach Labour’s commitment. Trump also criticised Europe’s reliance on wind power and described the UK as economically weakened by high energy prices and restricted fossil-fuel development.

Greater Manchester Police is increasing high-visibility patrols around the Ancora car park area on Broadway in Chadderton after reports of groups of vehicles gathering late at night and early in the morning. Residents and businesses have raised concerns about loud music, noise disturbance and litter left after people consume food and refreshments. Police are urging the public to report anti-social behaviour and excessive noise to help identify patterns and direct patrols.

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck west of Naples in the Campi Flegrei area at 7:46 p.m. on July 31, 2026, at a depth of about 3 kilometers. Homes reportedly lost power, rail and metro services were suspended, and some people were injured, while footage showed dust and possible severe damage in a Naples street.

Andy Burnham has condemned FIFA’s plan to establish FIFA Forward Enterprise, a private company that would combine the sale of FIFA’s commercial rights with tournament operations and allow minority stakes to be sold to long-term investors. FIFA says the arrangement could increase funding for national football associations and raise development spending above $10 billion over four years. UEFA and the Football Supporters Association oppose the proposal, arguing that football’s governance and identity should not be treated as tradable assets and warning that the plan prioritizes short-term commercial gain over supporters and the wider game.

Morrisons is trialling Instacart’s Caper smart trolleys at its Preston store, marking the technology’s first UK retail deployment. The AI-enabled trolleys automatically recognise items, weigh fresh produce, track spending, support in-trolley bagging, provide product recommendations and apply Morrisons More Card savings. Customers can complete payment at a dedicated checkout using a barcode on the trolley, while Morrisons and Instacart describe the trial as a way to make grocery shopping faster, more personalised and easier to manage.

Nearly 4,000 people have signed a petition urging the UK government to impose a nationwide ban on disposable barbecues amid a rise in wildfires during hot weather. The petition argues that single-use barbecues contribute to preventable fires, public safety risks, and unnecessary waste, and calls for a ban, promotion of reusable alternatives, and retailer cooperation. Petitions passing 10,000 signatures receive a government response, while those reaching 100,000 are considered for parliamentary debate.

A landlady at the Winking Man pub in the Peak District condemned extremely rude customers after a man allegedly reduced staff to tears, prompting her to refuse service for the first time in 24 years. She urged greater politeness toward hospitality workers and criticised declining social respect.