The sun continues to shine this morning with the beautiful weather set to continue into the weekend. Yesterday, the UK recorded the hottest day on record (so far) – and it’s not just the weather that’s heating up – the headlines are too.
Reform gains in England local elections – Temperatures drop across UK – NHS considering weight loss jabs over the counter
It’s a great day for Nigel Farage after Reform made sweeping gains in the England local elections – but it’s still early days! there‘s lots to count but so far Reform can celebrate winning its first mayoral election in Greater Lincolnshire whilst Labour narrowly held three mayoral races in North Tyneside, the West of England and Doncaster – with Reform coming in a close second in all three races. Reform has also won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election – by just six votes!
The early results are being assessed by political experts who are suggesting the traditional two-party system is collapsing in the UK.
This weekend will see a drop in temperatures as the long bank holiday weekend brings with it some cooler weather – but still no rain!
Ongoing investigations into the murder of a British woman at her house in France have begun with a local woman, 69, arrested as part of the ongoing investigation.
The NHS is considering offering weight loss jabs over the counter at pharmacies which, after a short consultation, would be available without needing to see a doctor and at a cost of only £9.90 – broadening access to these jabs considerably.
Reform gains in England local elections is a warning to Labour & Tories
- The Guardian says Nigel Farage’s Reform gains have led to the prime minister being told to ‘start listening’ as Farage’s rightwing party ‘delivers a blow to Labour in its heartland.’ The paper says Labour won the West of England mayoralty where it expected competition from the Greens – but it was Reform that pipped the Greens to second in a place that is heavily left-leaning.
- Politico says Reform snatched ‘Labour’s safe seat after knife-edge vote’. “We are now the opposition party in the U.K. to Labour, and the Tories are a waste of space,” Farage told reporters in Runcorn.
- Sky News says Reform’s wins have put traditional political parties on notice ‘and we don’t know where this ends.’ The significance of the local election results will be argued for years but the gains show that British politics is being reshaped for a new era – which leans greater political unpredictability and challenges for the main parties.
- The Daily Telegraph calls it a ‘revolution’ saying many ‘prayed the constituency was immune to Farage because the old majority was so large and it’s so close to Labour-loving Liverpool – but the six vote margin indicates that within England at least, there’s no no-go area for Reform.
Reforms election results aren’t a shock – but what does the media coverage tell you about the state of British politics?
Temperatures drop across UK ahead of Bank Holiday weekend
- The Daily Express says to make the most of the ‘scorching temperatures’ because a new weather map reveals a cold snap could be on the way.
- The Independent says the Bank Holiday weekend is set to ‘bring largely dry but noticeably cooler weather’ after the UK recorded its hottest day of the year so far yesterday!
- The Times says the Met Office says it will start to get cooler on Friday while emergency services warn those wanting to enjoy lakes and rivers to be careful.
British woman murdered in France
- BBC News leads with Karen Carter’s husband’s comments following her murder. Alan, who is currently in South Africa, said she was “such a decent, lovely person,” as he spoke of the family’s shock.
- The Standard says French police are hunting the alleged killer of the British woman who was stabbed to death in a “frenzied attack” in the Dordogne.
- The Daily Mail reports that the prosecutor for Bergerac has said that a woman known to Karen is being held over the fatal attack. The prosecutor said: ‘A woman aged 69 years old, who comes from Trémolat and is part of the couple’s circle, has been detained.’
- The Daily Mirror says Karen was found ‘beaten to death’ with ‘five deep wounds’ adding the 65-year-old ran a property in the French village where she was found dead.
The tabloids pull no punches with their coverage of what they call ‘fat jabs’ as the NHS and government try to tackle UK obesity!
NHS considering weight loss jabs over the counter
- LBC says drugs like Ozermpic – which currently costs around £150 a month – could become available over the counter following a short consultation. A pilot scheme will take place involving a major pharmaceutical firm, with a view of rolling the jabs out over the counter to everyone in need.
- Daily Mirror says the scheme is part of a bid to tackle obesity and the trial scheme is hoping to broaden access to the injections.
- The Daily Mail understands a deal worth tens of millions of pounds will be struck with a major pharmaceutical firm to fund a pilot scheme across the UK, with a view to eventually rolling it out to everyone in need.
