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STORY

Chris Kennedy has withdrawn as the Green Party candidate for the Makerfield by-election just hours after being selected. Kennedy, a nurse and children’s safeguarding specialist, had been chosen by local party members to contest the seat, but the party later confirmed that he had stepped down for “personal and family reasons”.

The withdrawal followed scrutiny of previous social media posts, including material relating to an arson attack on Jewish ambulances in Golders Green. The Guardian reported that the Green Party said the posts did not reflect its values, and that Kennedy had deleted them and apologised.

The party said it would reopen nominations and hold a new selection meeting on Monday. The Makerfield by-election, expected on 18 June, was triggered after Labour MP Josh Simons resigned, clearing the way for Andy Burnham to seek a return to Parliament. Labour has selected Burnham as its candidate, while Reform UK is standing Robert Kenyon.

STORY

A new space awareness system has become operational to help protect UK satellites and the services that depend on them. The Ministry of Defence and UK Space Agency said the Borealis system will improve the UK’s ability to track objects in space, including debris and satellites that could threaten British assets.

The Government said the system has gone live six months ahead of schedule and will support the National Space Operations Centre by combining and analysing data from multiple sources. Ministers also released the first images from the UK’s Noctis-1 military telescope, including images of objects such as the International Space Station and military communications satellites.

Defence minister Luke Pollard (in photo) said space was now a contested domain and that protecting satellites was

important for both the economy and national security. The Government said nearly 20% of UK GDP is reliant on satellite services, including navigation, communications, money transfers and weather forecasting.

STORY

The Government has set out how the Football Governance Act will give supporters stronger protections over the future of their clubs. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (in photo) said the legislation was designed to protect club heritage, improve financial oversight and ensure fans are consulted on important decisions.

The Act gives the new Independent Football Regulator powers to examine club ownership, require stronger financial planning and prevent clubs from joining prohibited breakaway competitions. It also requires clubs to consult properly before making major changes to badges, colours, names or grounds.

Ministers said the reforms are intended to protect the football pyramid and give fans a greater say in how clubs are run. The Government said the regulator will also be able to identify individuals who put clubs at risk and take action where necessary.

STORY

Passengers could be able to book taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year after the Government opened applications for operators to join a new pilot scheme. The Department for Transport said the trials would allow approved firms to run services on roads in Great Britain.

Ministers said the scheme could support older and disabled people, create skilled jobs and help develop the UK’s autonomous vehicle sector. Services will be subject to safety assessments, cyber-security checks and local consent from transport authorities before operating.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood (in photo) said self-driving vehicles could expand independent travel and support economic growth. The pilots will be used to gather real-world evidence as ministers develop the regulations needed for wider deployment of the technology.

STORY

The UK is sending three additional sniffer dogs to Bulgaria as part of efforts to disrupt organised migration crime before it reaches the Channel. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the dogs would help strengthen border security and detect equipment used by criminal networks.

The Government said the deployment forms part of a whole-route approach to stopping small boats, including cooperation with European partners and the National Crime Agency. More than 1,000 boats and engines have been seized since early 2023 through joint work with countries including Bulgaria, Belgium, France and Germany.

The announcement follows recent talks in Moldova where Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper secured agreement from European partners on reforms linked to migration cases. Ministers said the UK’s international work is designed to break criminal supply chains and reduce the profits made by organised gangs.

STORY

The Government has launched a consultation on new rules requiring mandatory age checks for sunbed use in England. Ministers said the proposals are intended to stop under-18s using commercial sunbeds and to strengthen existing protections against skin cancer risks.

Under the plans, staff would need to be present to check identification before customers use sunbeds, closing loopholes linked to contactless and unsupervised systems. The Government also wants clearer health warnings and a ban on misleading claims that sunbeds can help with weight loss or prevent sunburn.

Public Health and Prevention Minister Sharon Hodgson said children as young as 14 were still accessing sunbeds illegally and that the Government wanted to prevent cancer before it starts. The consultation will run until 14 August 2026, with new rules potentially introduced in 2027.

STORY

UK officials have discussed further reductions to the international aid budget as ministers look for ways to fund higher defence spending. The Financial Times reported that the talks follow earlier plans to reduce aid spending from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027.

The Government has committed to increasing defence spending in response to growing international security threats. Ministers have also faced pressure from NATO allies to go further, while campaigners and some MPs have warned that additional aid cuts could damage the UK’s influence and humanitarian work overseas.

The debate highlights the difficult choices facing the Government as it seeks to balance defence, diplomacy and public spending limits. Ministers have said the UK remains committed to international development, but the aid budget remains under pressure as defence priorities rise.

STORY

Andy Burnham has launched his campaign for the Makerfield by-election, saying the contest should be used to send a message that Labour needs to change. The Greater Manchester Mayor is seeking to return to the House of Commons after being selected as Labour’s candidate for the seat.

The Guardian reported that Burnham used the campaign launch to set out positions on housing, immigration, the economy and electoral reform. He said the by-election was not about returning to Westminster for its own sake, but about changing the direction of politics and reconnecting Labour with communities that had lost confidence in the party.

The by-election follows the resignation of Josh Simons, who stepped down as MP to allow Burnham to stand. The contest is expected to be closely watched because of Labour’s internal tensions and the challenge from Reform UK in a seat Labour has historically held.