I quit the BBC over Gaza – Glastonbury proves I was right to do it
This weekend, if you wanted to watch Kneecap’s Glastonbury performance live on the West Holts stage, you wouldn’t have found it on the BBC. Instead, you’d have had to find Helen Wilson’s TikTok account, where she burnt her fingers holding her phone up in 30-degree heat to livestream the entire set from her spot in the festival audience, knowing that our public broadcaster had decided not to. Thousands were watching.
The band was expected to be one of the festival’s most anticipated acts, with organisers warning prior that there would be a large crowd for their performance. The BBC announced it wouldn’t be broadcasting the set live on TV, but that edited highlights would be offered later, on iPlayer.
“Whilst the BBC doesn’t ban artists”, it said in a statement, “our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines.” This comes after band member Mo Chara was charged with a terrorist offence, for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a performance in 2024 – a charge that has now been dropped, and with a court hearing scheduled for August cancelled.
On the day, the BBC tried to play it safe, choosing to edit Kneecap’s performance for iPlayer. Surely this would shield it?
During the set, Mo Chara commented on the sheer number of Palestinian flags at the festival, and led crowds in chants of “Free Palestine”. Another band member wore a T-shirt reading “We are all Palestine Action”, in reference to the soon-to-be proscribed direct action group.
In the end, the BBC’s editorial timidity didn’t save it. Instead of livestreaming Kneecap’s Palestine chants, it livestreamed rap duo Bob Vylan’s, whose call-and-response about the Israeli military (“Death, death to the IDF”) has resulted in significant criticism – even from the prime minister – and demands that the broadcaster be defunded or prosecuted.
For bad-faith critics, censorship – the most extreme editorial choice – will never be enough. Refusing to air band sets at Glastonbury, or editorially sound documentaries like Gaza: Doctors Under Fire, will never be enough. Sacrificing the BBC’s dearest editorial standards and values will never be enough. Because censorship is the call of those who don’t want reality to be shown – and the reality is that there’s growing public support for Palestine, and growing anger at Israel’s actions in Gaza.
This shows itself in the folk-hero status given to artists who speak up, in the hundreds of thousands who have protested down London streets across 20 months, in the sea of Palestine flags at Glastonbury. Public anger cannot be censored away, no matter how much anyone tries. If an artist shouts “Free, free” on a Glastonbury stage, the audience will roar “Palestine”. Showing the reality of this public sentiment should be a priority for our public broadcaster.
I want a BBC free of influence, a BBC that is editorially brave in the face of pressure. It’s crucial that our public broadcaster makes its editorial decisions freely, not based on the perceived anger of bad-faith critics, but based on accuracy, evidence, human rights, and core principles that must be upheld – principles such as free speech and public service.
The BBC that refused to remove a documentary series on Indian prime minister Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots, despite pressure from his government, is the BBC we need. It’s the BBC we deserve. Not the one where a member of the public has to burn her fingers to air what it won’t.
Karishma Patel is a former BBC newsreader and journalist who resigned over its coverage of Gaza
Russia claims to capture first full Ukrainian region after over three years of war
Russia claims its forces have occupied the whole of illegally-annexed Luhansk, which would make it the only Ukrainian region to have fallen in its entirety more than three years after Vladimir Putin launched his invasion.
Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-installed leader of the occupied region, said he received a report “literally two days ago” saying that “100 per cent of the region was now under the control of Russian forces”. Kyiv has yet to comment on the claim.
Luhansk was among the first regions to see a major Russian advance at the start of the war, but Ukraine has consistently been able to keep hold of small slivers of the largely industrial region. Russia claims to have annexed it in its entirety alongside four other regions which it only controls in part, and their fate is expected to form a key element of peace talks to end the war.
Elsewhere on the frontline, the Ukrainian military said it had begun pushing back Russian troops in the northeastern Sumy region, where it is preparing a counteroffensive following advances by Moscow.
Zelensky says Putin has spent 2025 stalling peace
Volodymyr Zelensky says Vladimir Putin has spent the first six months of the year stalling against a ceasefire or peace.
“Putin has already stolen practically half a year from diplomacy — another half a year — on top of the entire duration of this war,” he said on X.
“Russia is not changing its plans and is not looking for a way out of this war. On the contrary, they are preparing for new operations, including on the territory of European countries. That’s their principle, the Russians look for where to exploit a weakness.
He continued: “They must see that there is the wherewithal to stop them everywhere. Therefore, more of our joint production, more resilience, more coordination and efficiency of our common security architecture in Europe.”
Russia says it downed 60 Ukrainian drones
Russia destroyed 60 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to the Russian defence ministry.
Russia’s air defence units took the drones down over regions in southwest Russia and over the Crimean Peninsula, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, it said.
North Korea’s Kim Jong Un seen honouring soldiers killed in Ukraine war
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was seen draping coffins with the national flag in what appeared to be the repatriation of soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine, photos released by its state media showed.
In photos published from a gala performance, Mr Kim is seen standing by half a dozen coffins, covering them with North Korean flags and pausing briefly with both hands resting on them.
The North Korean leader in some pictures seems overcome with emotion, and audience members can be seen wiping away tears.
North Korea and Russia are marking the first anniversary of their landmark strategic defence partnership treaty, with Pyongyang hosting Russia’s culture minister Olga Lyubimova.
Why has Russia increased its aerial attacks on Ukraine?
Russia has significantly ramped up its drone and missile attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks in a move that is designed to squeeze Ukraine into submission, according to Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War.
“Russia is continuing to use increasingly large numbers of drones in its overnight strike packages in order to overwhelm Ukrainian air defences and enable subsequent cruise and ballistic missile strikes,” the Washington-based think tank said late on Sunday.
“The increases in Russia’s strike packages in recent weeks are largely due to Russia’s efforts to scale up its defence industrial production, particularly of Shahed and decoy drones and ballistic missiles,” the institute added.
Russia has ramped up its overnight aerial attacks targeting civilian areas of Ukrainian cities in the past few weeks.
Over the weekend, Russia launched its biggest combined aerial attack against Ukraine, officials said, in an escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in peace efforts.
Ukraine’s air force yesterday said it detected 107 Russian Shahed and decoy drones in the country’s air space overnight.
Russia claims to take control of Ukrainian village in new advance
Russian forces have reportedly seized their first village in Ukraine’s east-central Dnipropetrovsk region, according to Russian state media and war bloggers, marking a new advance in the ongoing conflict.
There has been no immediate confirmation from Ukrainian sources or the Russian defence ministry regarding the claim.
Russia’s state RIA news agency quoted pro-Russian official Vladimir Rogov as stating that Russian forces had taken control of the village of Dachnoye, located just inside the Dnipropetrovsk region. The claim remains unverified by independent sources.
This reported advance comes as Moscow’s forces have gained significant ground in recent months, seizing approximately 950 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory over the past two months.
Russia claims to take control of Ukrainian village in new advance
EU and Ukraine seal new trade deal but key details awaited
The European Union and Ukraine have struck a long-term trade agreement, ending their wartime trade liberalisation measures.
The agreement is “predictable” and has a “reciprocal” framework, said EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic and agriculture commissioner Christophe Hansen, as they added that the finer points will be finalised “in the coming days”.
The Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), was first negotiated between 2007 and 2011, and signed on 21 March and 27 June 2014, a statement by the EU commission yesterday said.
The DCFTA deal notably removed the vast majority of tariffs on industrial goods.
Under the three tiers of the new framework, there will be modest increases in quotas for products like eggs, poultry, sugar, wheat, maize and honey, which are considered sensitive by EU member states.
In the agreement, the EU and Ukraine will work to adjust the quotas for a second group of products like butter, skimmed milk powder, oats, barley, malt and gluten, to push them to reach peak import levels since the war began in February 2022.
The trade deal will fully liberalise a third section of items like whole milk powder, fermented milk, mushrooms, and grape juice.
Trump’s Ukraine envoy snaps back at Kremlin, says Russia stalling negotiations
US president Donald Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg has reacted to the Kremlin’s claims that the peace talks for Ukraine depend on Kyiv and Washington, calling them “Orwellian”.
Kremlin spokesperson and a close aide of Russian president Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, on Monday said that the pace of talks to resolve the war in Ukraine depends on Kyiv’s position, the effectiveness of US mediation, and the situation on the ground.
In response, Mr Kellogg said: “Peskov’s recent comments on the state of negotiations are Orwellian. Russian claims that it is the US and Ukraine stalling peace talks are unfounded.”
“President Trump has been consistent and adamant about making progress to end the war. We urge an immediate ceasefire and a move to trilateral talks to end the war. Russia cannot continue to stall for time while it bombs civilian targets in Ukraine,” he said in a post on X.
Lammy discusses Ukraine with Turkish foreign minster during Turkey trip
Foreign secretary David Lammy is set to discuss the Ukraine conflict with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan during his first bilateral visit to Ankara.
The trip comes as talks on a new free trade agreement between the UK and Turkey get under way.
The UK and Turkey are also in talks to export Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey.
Mr Lammy said: “In an increasingly volatile world, the UK and Turkey remain the closest of friends and partners as we work together to find peaceful solutions to conflict in the Middle East and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
“Ours is a relationship which delivers directly for Turkish and British citizens at home – trade between our nations is responsible for thousands of jobs, while our security and defence links help keep our people safe.”
Putin’s peace talks are ‘pure mockery’, says German foreign minister
Russian president Vladimir Putin’s talk of wanting peace in the Ukraine war is “pure mockery”, a top German diplomat visiting Kyiv has said.
“When Putin speaks of peace today, it is pure mockery,” said Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul, speaking at a news conference with Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha.
“His apparent readiness to negotiate is only a facade so far,” Mr Wadephul said.
He also announced that Berlin aims to help Ukraine manufacture more weapons more quickly at a time Kyiv is looking to strengthen its negotiating position in peace talks with Russia.
“We see our task as helping Ukraine so that it can negotiate more strongly,” he said.
Russia’s Lavrov claims Nato defence spending increase could lead to its collapse
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said that a decision by Nato members to increase defence spending was catastrophic for the alliance and could ultimately lead to its collapse, state news agency Tass reported yesterday.
Nato “needs to be guided by common sense”, Mr Lavrov said.
Allies within the alliance last week agreed to raise their collective spending goal to 5 per cent of gross domestic product over the next decade.
Asked about remarks by Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who was reported to have said that an arms race between Russia and the West could trigger the fall of president Vladimir Putin, Mr Lavrov instead deflected and said he thought Nato could collapse.
“Since he is such a predictor, he probably foresees that a catastrophic increase in the budget of Nato countries, according to my estimates, will also lead to the collapse of this organisation,” the Russian official said, referring to Nato.
Meghan Markle’s new rosé proves one thing
First came the jam. Then the flower sprinkles. And now, Meghan Markle has turned her attention to something a little more grown-up: rosé. The Duchess of Sussex is launching her first wine, a pale pink bottle of Napa Valley sunshine, via her online lifestyle brand, As ever. Given the rate at which her apricot preserves sold out – twice – we can reasonably expect this wine to vanish even faster.
Cue the eye-rolls, of course. Because if there’s one thing more predictable than celebrities releasing wine, it’s the reflexive backlash when Meghan does, well, anything. She could invent a cure for jet lag and people would still say she’s attention-seeking. But here’s the thing: Meghan isn’t doing anything new. In fact, she’s late to the party.
Celebrity wine is no longer a novelty. It’s a full-blown category, a supermarket aisle of famous faces turned vintners. From Francis Ford Coppola to Kylie Minogue, Sam Neill to Sarah Jessica Parker, Graham Norton to Snoop Dogg, there’s scarcely a walk of fame left untouched by fermentation. “What do a Jurassic Park actor, a former Neighbours star and the Doggfather all have in common?” would make an excellent pub quiz question. Answer: they all sell rosé. It is the weapon of choice for the celebrity winemaker – pastel, photogenic and perfectly pitched to the lifestyle-curious shopper who might not know malolactic fermentation from their elbow, but knows they trust Kylie more than they trust Chateau Something-or-other from somewhere they can’t pronounce.
In this context, Meghan’s move makes total sense. She’s curated a personal brand built on soft-focus domesticity, organic lemons and that elusive notion of “authenticity”. Rosé slots in neatly beside all that. It’s light, it’s pretty, it’s shareable. It has Instagram appeal and dinner-party versatility. Frankly, the only surprise is that it’s taken her this long.
Still, wine is a funny business. It has a way of making people feel excluded, uncertain or even slightly ashamed of their choices. There’s a whole industry built on mystique – on words like “terroir”, “structure”, “minerality”. For the uninitiated, celebrity labels offer a rare reprieve: a recognisable name, a safe bet, a kind of vinous comfort blanket. You know who Meghan is. You might have watched Suits. You might even like her jam. So when you’re standing in the supermarket wondering which rosé to pick up for the weekend and her bottle winks at you from the shelf, you reach for it.
This, ultimately, is the economy of celebrity wines. In some cases, they outsell everything else. Kylie Minogue’s rosé is the best-selling branded pink wine over £7 in the UK. Her brand has shifted more than 20 million bottles since launching in 2020, during a pandemic, no less, reportedly racking up more than £30m in sales. Kylie might be quietly making more money from rosé than she ever did from spinning around – and honestly, who could blame her? Meghan might not reach those numbers, but she doesn’t need to. She has cultural cachet. She has a story. She has fans. And she has critics, which is, paradoxically, just as useful. People love to hate a celebrity wine almost as much as they love to drink it.
Wine is not an easy business. Not really. It’s capital-intensive, time-consuming and riddled with risk, especially when climate change can wipe out entire harvests and global wine consumption is in steady decline. You’re essentially betting on the weather and the whims of the modern drinker. The old joke is that if you want to make a small fortune in wine, start with a large one. Meghan presumably has the latter, and it’s likely she’s partnered with a Napa producer who knows what they’re doing, but the challenges remain. Consistency. Quality. Scale. If her rosé is any good, people will want more. And if they can’t get more, the charm of the “limited drop” model may start to wear thin. Scarcity works when you’re selling handbags. It’s more frustrating when you’re selling jam, or wine, which people tend to consume and then want again.
Some will undoubtedly question the sincerity of the venture. Is Meghan a serious wine lover? Has she spent time in the vineyards, tasting barrel samples, debating yeast strains and brix levels? Possibly not. But this line of questioning is rarely applied to male celebrities. No one asked whether Brad Pitt understood carbonic maceration when Chateau Miraval launched. And anyway, involvement comes in degrees. Some celebs just sign off on labels; others, like Sam Neill or Sarah Jessica Parker, genuinely get stuck in. People might expect Meghan to be a wine expert, but let’s be honest – most consumers aren’t, and most don’t care about brix levels or battonage. They just want something nice to drink with dinner. If the wine tastes good and the bottle looks good, that’s often enough. What matters is whether the wine is decent – and whether people want to drink it.
And actually, a lot of celebrity wines are good. Graham Norton’s sauvignon blanc has been commended by proper wine critics. Sam Neill’s Two Paddocks pinot is one of the best quality pinot noir wines from central Otago, according to connoisseurs. Even Idris Elba’s £99 champagne Porte Noire went viral last year after TikTok wine expert Tom Gilbey declared it one of the best bottles he’d ever tasted; proof, if nothing else, that celebrity fizz can still turn heads for the right reasons. Meghan’s wine will almost certainly be made by a seasoned winemaker. She’s far too scrutinised to risk flogging something undrinkable. The backlash would be instant. And besides, it’s hard to be snobbish about celebrity wine when so many of them are… perfectly decent. Not life changing, perhaps, but pleasant, well made and priced to move.
And that, perhaps, is the rub. Celebrity wines rarely aim for the top of the market. They’re not chasing burgundy collectors or bordeaux obsessives. They’re targeting casual wine drinkers, the ones picking up a bottle alongside their cat food and oat milk. For these shoppers, the name on the label matters more than the vineyard it came from. And while sommeliers might scoff, these are the very consumers the wine industry desperately needs. Global wine consumption is falling. Young people are drinking less. The gap between fine wine and casual wine is widening. If a familiar face helps someone feel confident enough to buy a bottle, taste something new or simply enjoy wine without feeling judged, then isn’t that a net positive?
So yes, Meghan’s rosé will sell. People will snipe. But in truth, she’s just the latest in a long procession of famous faces trying their hand at the grape. Some will accuse her of chasing profit. Others will say she’s chasing credibility. Most likely, she’s chasing the same thing every celebrity is: relevance. Or hey: maybe she just likes wine. Don’t we all?
Will it become a proper brand, something with a second vintage, a broader range, a place on supermarket shelves? Maybe. Or it might just be a fleeting, artisan-flavoured moment, like that apricot jam. Either way, she’ll be judged more harshly than most. But if the wine’s good – and it might be, you know – then perhaps the fairest thing we can do is pour a glass and admit that for all the fuss, sometimes a bottle of pale pink wine is just that. A bottle of wine.
If it turns out to be lovely, well… we’ll have to find something else to be mad about.
Bob Vylan and Kneecap face criminal probe as BBC Glastonbury coverage criticised
Kneecap and Bob Vylan are facing criminal police investigations for their performances at Glastonbury Festival as US authorities confirmed the latter group have been banned from entering the country.
The BBC also expressed regret at not pulling its livestream of Bob Vylan’s “unacceptable” set, with the Culture Secretary claiming the issue should have been foreseeable and constituted “a problem of leadership” for the broadcaster.
Bobby Vylan, one half of the British rap punk duo, led crowds at the festival’s West Holts Stage on Saturday in chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.
In their own set on the stage directly afterwards, Irish rap trio Kneecap similarly led chants of “Free Palestine” while member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who appeared in court earlier this month charged with a terror offence, wore a keffiyeh during the performance.
Fellow member JJ O Dochartaigh also wore a T-shirt that said: “We are all Palestine Action” in reference to the soon-to-be-banned campaign group.
Avon and Somerset Police said they had launched a probe on Monday into both performances at the festival after reviewing video footage and audio recordings, with a senior detective appointed to lead it.
A police spokesman said: “This has been recorded as a public order incident at this time while our inquiries are at an early stage.
“The investigation will be evidence-led and will closely consider all appropriate legislation, including relating to hate crimes.”
US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau announced that Bob Vylan’s US visas had been revoked due to “their hateful tirade at Glastonbury”, with the duo scheduled to tour in Chicago, Brooklyn and Philadelphia in October.
The BBC has faced strong criticism for continuing to livestream their performance on iPlayer with on-screen warnings about discriminatory language, leading to broadcasting regulator Ofcom saying it was “very concerned” by the decision.
In a statement on Monday, the BBC said: “Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC’s output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive.
“The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence.
“The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.
“We welcome Glastonbury’s condemnation of the performance.
“The performance was part of a livestream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer.
“The judgment on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines.
“In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand.
“The team were dealing with a live situation, but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance.
“We regret this did not happen.”
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the Government was “exasperated” with the “lack of account from the leadership” at the BBC during a statement to the Commons on Monday.
Addressing a point from Jim Allister, TUV MP for North Antrim, that the livestream was “an appalling pro-terrorist broadcast”, Ms Nandy said: “He will know that this Government supports the BBC.
“We believe it is an important institution.
“That is why we are so disappointed that this has happened, why we have been so exasperated with the lack of account from the leadership, not just about this, but about a previous Gaza documentary and a number of other issues as well.
“The BBC is one of the most important institutions in our country, and that is the reason why it is held to the highest of standards.”
Ms Nandy said the incident had raised “very, very serious questions at the highest levels of the BBC about the operational oversight and the way in which editorial standards are understood”, adding that she wanted to see “rapid action” from the broadcaster.
Glastonbury Festival itself also condemned Bob Vylan’s chants, saying it was “appalled” by what was said on stage.
A statement on Instagram said: “Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.”
Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class.
Bobby Vylan’s real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports.
In a statement posted to Instagram, Vylan said: “Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place.
“As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.”
Kneecap have been in the headlines after member O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.
In reference to his bandmate’s upcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain told Glastonbury they would “start a riot outside the courts”, before clarifying: “No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.”
Man, 92, found guilty of murder in ‘UK’s oldest cold case’
A 92-year-old man has been found guilty of the rape and murder of an elderly widow in what is thought to be the UK’s longest-running cold case ever to be solved.
Ryland Headley, then aged 34, forced entry into the home of 75-year-old Louisa Dunne in Bristol in June 1967 before attacking her.
The mother-of-two’s body was found by neighbours inside her terraced home on Britannia Road in the Easton area of the city on the morning of 28 June.
A woman was heard screaming hours before Dunne, who had been twice widowed and lived alone, was discovered dead.
Dunne, who was using the front room as a bedroom, was found lying on a pile of old clothes, and police found no evidence of any violent struggle in the house.
The case remained unsolved for over 50 years until Avon and Somerset detectives sent off items from the original investigation for DNA testing.
Those results provided a DNA match to Headley, who since the murder had moved to Suffolk, and had served a prison sentence for raping two elderly women in 1977.
Headley, of Clarence Road, Ipswich, denied both charges but was found guilty by the jury at Bristol Crown Court on Monday afternoon, following nine hours and 53 minutes of deliberations. He did not give evidence.
Mr Justice Sweeting told the jury of eight men and four women that he would sentence Headley for the two offences on Tuesday morning.
He told them: “This was a case that has been in the public eye.
“It involved many details which are no doubt distressing. If you are summoned again in the next 10 years for jury service, you are entitled to refuse.”
The trial heard a pathologist conclude that Dunne died from asphyxia due to strangulation from a scarf and pressure on her mouth, with a hand forcibly held over it.
Swabs were taken from her body, which tested positive for semen, but scientific examinations at that time were limited.
Police also recovered a left-hand palm print from an upstairs window at her home, which was compared to 19,000 men and boys in 1967, but none matched the suspect.
Headley, then a railway worker, was living with his wife in Picton Street – around a mile and a half from Dunne, but crucially just outside the geographic area in which men and boys were asked to give prints.
He uprooted his family to London a short time later, then moved to Ipswich, with his palm print never taken in Bristol.
Eventually, police gathered up the material from their investigation – including clothing worn by Dunne when her body was found – and sealed it away for further work in the future.
All the evidence, including Dunne’s clothing and other forensic evidence, was boxed up and kept by Avon and Somerset detectives to await advances in science.
In 2023, the case was re-examined, and Dunne’s blue skirt was sent away for forensic testing in May last year.
DNA recovered from the skirt matched Headley to a ratio that meant it was one billion times more likely to be his DNA than that of someone else.
His DNA had been taken by police and uploaded to the national database following an unrelated offence in 2012, which did not result in a charge.
When Headley was arrested at his home in November last year on suspicion of murdering Dunne, he told detectives: “I don’t know what you are talking about. Very strange, very strange.”
During previous arrests, Headley had provided his fingerprints but had not given palm prints. On the 2012 form, it noted “arthritis in both wrists, palms not flexible”.
This time, Headley’s palm prints were taken, and a fingerprint expert found more than 25 characteristics that matched the 1967 print.
The trial heard Headley had been jailed for the rape of two elderly women in 1977 whose homes he had broken into – threatening them with violence if they did not comply.
He also asked for a further 10 offences of overnight burglaries previously to be taken into account when he was sentenced.
During the 2025 case, Headley used a hearing loop and was assisted by an intermediary. Jurors were told the court would sit for shorter days to enable Headley to maintain concentration.
Jeremy Benson KC, representing Headley, said his client had “no recollection” of having visited Dunne or having sexual intercourse with her.
“He certainly didn’t rape her and he didn’t kill her,” Mr Benson told the jury in his closing speech.
Speaking after the verdicts, detective inspector Dave Marchant, of Avon and Somerset Police, said forces across the country were now examining whether Headley could be linked to other unsolved crimes.
“Ryland Headley has now been convicted of three rapes of elderly women within their own addresses, and in the case of Louisa Dunne, her murder as well,” he told the PA news agency.
“In 1978, when he was sentenced, he admitted to a number of other burglary offences.
“I think there’s every possibility that there are other offences out there – over the 60s, 70s, however long a time period – which Mr Headley could be culpable for.
“We are working with colleagues across the country and other police forces and the National Crime Agency to try to understand and identify those potential further offences, and if possible, can we match them through any forensic techniques etc and if we are able, hopefully then get him before a court to face justice over those matters too.”
The 7 best outdoor adventures in Sydney and New South Wales
Whether you’re lacing up your hiking boots, throwing on a wetsuit to catch some waves, or hitting the wide-open roads of New South Wales (NSW) by campervan, this Australian state is home to some of the country’s most exciting outdoor adventures – all easily accessible thanks to Qantas’ extensive domestic network.
Flying into Sydney with Qantas is the ideal way to experience a slice of Australia before you’ve even landed. And with onboard wellbeing perks, plus the option to book more discounted domestic legs using Qantas Explorer, it really is the savvy traveller’s best way to explore Australia.
Here are seven next-level outdoor adventures in NSW, and the best way to get there.
Nature in the heart of the Sydney
Sydney might be a modern metropolis, but it’s also home to an extraordinary natural playground, the star attraction of which is Sydney Harbour National Park. This protected area weaves through the city’s coastline, offering walking trails, secluded beaches, and panoramic views that blend wild bushland with iconic urban landmarks. Away from the National Park, you can paddle a kayak at dawn beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge, go on a cycle tour and sunset cruise around Manly and North Heads coastal cliffs, or follow the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk for sweeping ocean views and refreshing swim spots.
Hike through the Blue Mountains
Just a 90-minute trip from Sydney by road, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains is an endless landscape of towering eucalyptus forests and striking sandstone cliffs as far as the eye can see. There are few places quite as grand as this so close to a city. Don your hiking boots and traverse spectacular scenery to Wentworth Falls or take on the Grand Canyon Track – a 6km loop of dramatic cliffs, fern-fringed valleys and thundering waterfalls with lookouts to match. If you’re an early riser, watch the sunrise at Echo Point, where the Three Sisters rock formation is lit up by the glow of first light.
Spot whales and dolphins in Port Macquarie
Wildlife lovers need to head north to Port Macquarie for some of the best marine encounters on the east coast. Humpback whales are almost guaranteed from May to November, and dolphins can be spotted all year round. For front-row views, jump on a whale-watching cruise, or pitch up with a picnic on a headland and watch the breaching giants from afar.
Cycle the lush hinterland of Coffs Harbour
Swap the sandy beaches for subtropical rainforest in Coffs Harbour’s hinterland in Dorrigo National Park, where winding roads serpentine through flourishing banana plantations, dense palm-filled forest and endless rolling hills. The region’s cycling trails range from casual loops to more challenging rides with jaw-to-the-floor sea views.
Ride the waves in Byron Bay
Aussies love their surfing, and Byron Bay is the epitome of surf culture Down Under, with beaches to suit all skill levels; from the gentle swell at The Pass to barrel-laden breaks at Tallows. If you’ve got any stamina left, soak up the view from Cape Byron Lighthouse post-surf – the easternmost point of mainland Australia.
Explore the remote Lord Howe Island
With over 8,000 islands to its name, Australia offers the ultimate in island adventures. Lord Howe is one of them, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed pristine island, where only 400 visitors are allowed at any one time. You’ll find rare birds, kaleidoscopic coral reefs, and Mount Gower, offering one of the best day hikes in the country, with epic coastline views and dizzying drops.
Paddle the coastline of Merimbula
For those who need more than a beach stroll to get the heart pumping, grab a kayak and explore the Sapphire Coast from the water in Merimbula. Glide over crystal-clear waters, past secluded coves, pristine beaches, and the untouched beauty of surrounding national parks. Keep an eye out for dolphins and other marine life as you paddle. Once back on shore, refuel with the region’s famous fresh oysters and enjoy a refreshing dip at Bar Beach.
Book your flight to Sydney today at qantas.com and start your Australian adventure.
The sound of silence for Liz Kendall is a big problem for Starmer
Sometimes a hushed Commons chamber greets a statement of great significance – the death of a national figure, a resignation statement by a senior minister, war or a tragedy.
But this was not the case for Liz Kendall whose statement to the House on last minute changes to her much criticised welfare bill was met with a prickly uncomfortable silence and barely an audible sound of approval from the Labour benches behind her.
The work and pensions secretary had in essence been forced to come to the Commons a day early to outline her changes to the welfare bill made in desperation because more than 130 Labour MPs had signed an amendment which would kill it.
In fairness to Ms Kendall she was in a much more ameliorant mood than she was when she first announced reforms to the benefits system back in March.
The work and pensions secretary is leaning much more heavily on positive “Labour measures” about supporting those unable to work or who need help getting back into work.
It is a much better approach than her “we need to save £5bn of savings” attempt when she first announced the reforms in March.
Since then the threat of a massive rebellion has forced the government to change its tone.
But the silence behind Ms Kendall on the Labour benches seems to suggest that she still has work to do to persuade her reluctant colleagues to support the reforms.
The minister has been described by one colleague as “the equivalent of putting the grim reaper in charge of a home for the elderly” in her role as the cabinet minister responsible for benefits.
And her task was not helped at all by the government’s own impact assessment, published just an hour before she got to her feet, that 150,000 people are likely to be plunged into poverty as a result of her plans.
Admittedly this is not as bad as the 250,000 (including 50,000 children) who would have been hit under the unamended plans but it was not news that was ever going to quell a rebellion.
Labour work and pensions committee chair Debbie Abrahams had signalled that the rebellion was still on in an interview on ITV News ahead of the statement.
Things did not get better as Labour MP after Labour MP demanded that she postpone the legislation tomorrow.
On the hottest day of the year it was clear that despite halving the much needed savings from £5bn to £2.5bn Ms Kendall and prime minister Sir Keir Starmer will have to continue to sweat tonight over what they may face in the voting lobby tomorrow.
More than that though the whole episode in the chamber was symbolic of a Labour parliamentary party that appears to have run out of patience with its leader and being asked to support tough decisions many just think are plain cruel. Chopping disability benefits, creating a two tier welfare system, and taking away winter fuel payments are not reasons people become Labour MPs.
Withdrawing the welfare bill or postponing the vote could prove to be a humiliation too far for the prime minister but a rebellion of 50 or more MPs will be extremely damaging too.
The debate is set to continue on Tuesday with the second reading of the bill but Sir Keir will be hoping that the disgruntled silence gives way to cheers from Labour MPs soon if he wants to repair his tattered authority.
Ministers launch full review of parental leave as current system ‘not working’
Ministers have launched a review of parental leave and pay as the current system is “not working” for young families.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the Government will investigate the whole system for supporting new parents to take time off work when they have a baby, including maternity leave, paternity leave and shared arrangements.
“We want this to work for millions of families who tell us at the minute that it is not working, so only about one in three new dads take paternity leave, mainly for financial reasons,” Mr Reynolds told the PA news agency.
Currently, new fathers can take two weeks’ paid leave, at a rate of either £187.18, or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lowest.
Maternity leave is paid at 90% of average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, and then whichever is lower of that 90% or £187.18 for the next 33 weeks.
Ministers hope to increase the take-up of shared parental leave, which allows a couple to share up to 50 weeks of leave and 37 weeks of pay between them.
They also hope to simplify the system for both parents and employers, with the Business Secretary pointing to “eight different types of parental leave”.
Mr Reynolds insisted businesses would be “absolutely integral” to the review, and would not face extra burdens as a result.
He added: “They tell us the current system is quite confusing, that people don’t know what they’re entitled to, that businesses don’t know what they should be offering.”
As ministers battle to boost sluggish growth, Mr Reynolds insisted bolstering parental leave would help the economy.
He told PA: “Of course, business themselves, the growth argument is this: the more people we can keep in work, because they’re able to spend some time with their children in those really important first few months and weeks, if we can do that, that’s obviously going to strengthen the economy as well.”
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner similarly described support for parents as “vital for our economy”.
She added: “Through our plan to make work pay, we’re already improving the parental leave system with new day one rights. This ambitious review will leave no stone unturned as we deliver for working families.”
The review will gather opinions from parents, employers and experts across the UK and end with a series of proposals for reform.
Plans to boost support for young parents come after worries about the falling birthrate were expressed by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson.
She told the Daily Telegraph falling birth rates were not only a concerning trend but one which “tells a story, heartbreakingly, about the dashed dreams of many families”.
Official data from the Office for National Statistics shows fertility rates in England and Wales dropped to 1.44 children per woman in 2023, the lowest level since records began in 1938.
Ms Phillipson said people were scared off having children due to the high costs, and wanted “more young people to have children, if they so choose”.