Burnham hits back at claims he is plotting to replace Starmer as PM

Andy Burnham has hit back at renewed speculation that he is plotting to return to Westminster and oust Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader.

The Greater Manchester mayor, who was the focus of similar rumours at the Labour Party conference in September, reacted with fury at the reports in Sunday newspapers over his alleged plans.

Taking to X, he said: “Quite a lot of rubbish in the papers today. Reminds me why I left Westminster in the first place!”

Former Labour minister Mr Burnham, who has repeatedly refused to explicitly rule out a leadership bid in recent months, is said to have identified a potential parliamentary seat from which to challenge Sir Keir.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Commons allies of the mayor had said they had found him a seat which was “likely to come free” in the coming months. Mr Burnham’s team declined to comment.

But it came as another potential contender for Sir Keir’s job, home secretary Shabana Mahmood, ducked questions on her own plans.

She did not deny that she would like the top job just days after a high-profile event with Sir Tony Blair, which many present saw as an endorsement by the former PM for her as the next leader.

While insisting Labour figures should “focus on the day job” of delivering for the public and Sir Keir is “not going”, Ms Mahmood noted that “there is a Muslim woman as home secretary” which means there could be one as prime minister in the future.

The continuing speculation has come as Labour continue to struggle in the polls, stuck around just 20 per cent around 10 points behind Nigel Farage and Reform with many also switching to the Greens.

In addition, it was revealed last week that 100,000 previously paid-up Labour members have left the party since last year’s election, leaving Reform as the biggest membership party.

Downing Street has already addressed concerns that health secretary Wes Streeting is plotting to oust the PM, while there are reports that energy secretary Ed Miliband is considering a return as Labour leader and former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner wants the top job too.

But amid the fresh speculation about Mr Burnham’s ambitions, the home secretary said everyone within the party had their “role to play” in backing the government after reports the Greater Manchester mayor is seeking a Westminster comeback, which his allies have not denied.

Speaking to broadcasters on Sunday, Ms Mahmood suggested that “every single person” had thought about the top job, but added: “That is not the same as plotting to overthrow a prime minister for God’s sake.”

Asked whether she would consider a leadership bid if Sir Keir stepped down, Ms Mahmood told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg show: “Keir Starmer is not going.”

The home secretary, who has previously indicated she harbours ambitions for No 10, said: “The prime minister is getting on with doing his job.

“I am a member of his government. I have a big job of my own to do, and that is the only thing I’m focused on.”

Ms Mahmood urged Labour MPs to help make sure “we don’t waste a single second of the time that we have in government”.

“I think that all of us in government and in the Labour Party have a responsibility to focus on the day job and to get on with delivering for the British people,” she said.

“So actually, this is on the whole of the government and all of the parliamentary Labour Party and the whole Labour movement to make sure we don’t waste a single second of the time that we have in government.”

Asked about Mr Burnham, she told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: “Labour governments don’t come along very often, and every minute that we have in government is precious. We have a big agenda. We have to crack on with delivering.

“It’s a privilege to be in government. I’m focused on the big job that I have as home secretary, and my advice to all colleagues everywhere would be that it’s a precious privilege, and we mustn’t waste a single minute of it.”

She said: “Wherever you sit in the Labour family, we all have a role to play in supporting the Labour government deliver for the people of this country.”

Only 1,000 people turn out to Tommy Robinson’s ‘Christmas service’

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson’s latest event drew far fewer numbers on Saturday, as he led what he called an effort to “put the Christ back into Christmas” in London.

Only around 1,000 people gathered in Whitehall on Saturday for the carol concert, according to reported estimates.

It marks a sharp drop off in attendance compared to the estimated 110,000 to 150,000 people. people who participated in a London protest led by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, in September.

Ahead of the event, Bishops at the Diocese of Southwark said they were “gravely concerned” about the use of Christian symbols to “justify racism and anti-migrant rhetoric”.

Writing for The Independent, Right Reverend David Walker, the Bishop of Manchester, also hit out at fake claims that “Christmas has been cancelled” and criticised those seeking to politicise Christianity.

After gathering outside Downing Street on Saturday afternoon, crowds listened to speakers on stage give readings and sing hymns.

Attendees received hymn sheets, while a vendor sold St George’s flags and Santa hats as chants of “Christ is King” and tributes to Charlie Kirk were heard.

Closing the event, Yaxley-Lennon said he used to “hate the church” but met a pastor in prison who taught him about the bible.

A priest sitting among the crowd shouted that Jesus had been a migrant.

“I’ve worked with lots of former offenders like Tommy Robinson,” she said, offering to speak to attendees about Christianity.

His Unite The Kingdom gathering was separated from a counter-protest organised by Stand Up To Racism in central London at the same time.

While previous confrontations between similar groups on Whitehall earlier this year resulted in police violence, Saturday’s demonstration appeared to proceed peacefully.

In September, Robinson organised a Unite The Kingdom rally in central London attended by between 110,000 and 150,000 people.

More than 150 reports of anti-Muslim hate were made to the Tell Mama charity monitoring the issue in the seven days following the rally.

Officers were assaulted as they faced “significant aggression” from protesters, the force said.

Projectiles were thrown by Robinson protesters towards the counter-demonstrators as thousands from both sides stared each other down on Whitehall.

Posting on X before the event on Saturday, Robinson said: “I want to remind everyone this is a religious celebration, this is not a political event.

“No face coverings, and no drinking please, as we have always done, let’s self police, behave respectfully and let’s make sure we honour our faith, our culture, and our heritage in the very best way we can.”

Two arrests were made overall. One person was arrested earlier in the day for an assault on a mounted officer in nearby Whitehall Place. The second arrest was for a man suspected of directing homophobic abuse towards an officer at a previous protest.

The ‘monster’ 60ft warehouse which keeps residents up at night

When Maxine Southwell arrived home from holiday, she walked into her back garden and burst into tears.

She, her husband Ian and their children have lived in their family home in Tyldesley, Wigan, for 18 years. They said they bought the house, which backed onto a field, partly because of the view. But that view no longer exists.

In its place are four hulking warehouses, under construction as part of logistic firm PLP’s controversial Astley Business Park development. With planning permission granted by Wigan Council in 2024, building work next to the hundreds of homes across the Henfold Estate began this year.

The warehouses are up to 60 feet tall and when the Southwells got home in August, that scale became apparent.

“We walked through our garden and we were like ‘wow, what is that?’”, Ms Southwell, 57, told The Independent.

“I burst into tears, I just couldn’t believe it. We’d been away for two weeks and in those two weeks, it had gone from being acceptable to ‘oh god, what is that?’.”

They are not alone in their fury. The married couple are part of campaign group Astley Warehouse Action, which has brought together residents from various housing estates surrounding the development who oppose it – for a multitude of reasons.

The group believes the development is not in-keeping with the residential feel of the area, which has comprised of housing estates since the 1970s, and they think planning permission should not have been granted by Wigan Council. They claim residents were under the impression that any construction would have involved smaller buildings, rather than the grey steel structures which now tower over their homes.

However, the local authority says the planning application set out the size, footprint and height of the units, and there has been no fundamental change to those since permission was granted.

Last month the group wrote to the council requesting construction be stopped. Wigan Council rejected that but a spokesperson told The Independent: “We fully acknowledge the concerns that residents in the local area have regarding this development, and we are committed to continuing to work with them.

“We are confident that the decision to grant planning permission aligns with national planning policy. Nonetheless we fully acknowledge the concerns being raised and an independent audit of the planning process to ensure additional transparency is currently underway.”

Now, the action group claims the construction is having an impact beyond changing the landscape and causing a lot of noise – it is damaging their property.

Ms Southwell said she believes the creation of embankments on the site has caused water to drain into and flood her garden in recent weeks, while photographs and videos shared on the campaign group’s Instagram account show parents walking along a flooded path, carrying their children to Garrett Hall Primary School.

“We started noticing it coming in the garden a little bit and then it’s just gradually got worse and worse”, said Ms Southwell.

“We’re putting it down to the warehouse development. We’ve never had anything like this before – we’ve lived here for 18 years and we’ve never had any flooding whatsoever.”

The Southwell family are now worried about flooding making its way into their house.

Ms Southwell said: “On Tuesday it was feet away from our extension. This is the start of the winter. It’s only going to get worse, next week is going to be really bad.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen. If it gets any worse than Tuesday, it will reach the house and it will flood the house.

“It’s covered our flower bedding, it was three-quarters up my wellies. That’s how deep it is.

“The electric lights down the bottom of the garden are all covered, so we’ve had to switch the electricity off. We can’t use our garden, we can’t go in it.”

For Ms Southwell, the flooding represents the culmination of months of misery living next to the development, which she believes has taken enjoyment away from her home.

She said: “We bought the house because of the view. We’ve got a balcony from our bedroom and it just looks out on this now. We don’t even open the curtains any more. It’s awful.

“It hurts me to talk about it because it’s devastating. Anybody who comes just can’t believe it. They just can’t. It’s unbelievable.

“We’ve worked hard. I’m 57, my husband’s 60, we’ve worked all of our lives and we’ve got a nice house now. They’re ruining it.”

Central to the fight against the development are married couple, John and Jackie Peters. The retired teachers have lived on the estate for 36 years and are among the leaders of the campaign group, which began to mobilise earlier this year.

Mr Peters said: “There was a shock to the system as you started to see this steel monster grow. Being quite selfish, we saw unit one on the far side of the field, we thought it’s not too bad if it stays down there. Unit two started and it kept growing and growing, closer and closer to our houses, to our estate. It became daunting.

“We ended up having one of those Mr Bates v the Post Office moments. We tried to hire a room in a pub and I said there could be 30 or 40 people attending. We went for a larger room, and we were knocked back by the attendance that night in summer – more than 200 people attended.

“The meeting was very, very emotional – people were saying how it affected their mental health. It was a huge, huge problem.”

Paul Bullough’s garden backs onto the development and he told The Independent that it now dominates his property and stopped his daughter from using the garden last year.

The 51-year-old said: “It overpowers everything. It’s like a thundercloud, I stand in my back room and it’s dark.

“It overpowers in every aspect. I’ve got workers standing on top of a two metre bund (mound) near my back garden, able to look right into my house.

“That’s been going on for months. We’ve got diggers up and down, overlooking the house. I can feel the engines now. There are days when my glass of water has been shaking on my desk, they’re that close. It absolutely dominates everything, there’s loss of light, we hear it constantly, people looking over the fence, diggers back and forward.”

Accounting manager Mr Bullough also claims he feels the physical impact of the construction process while he is at home.

He explained: “The heavy rollers, when they change gears to reverse, the house does this little shudder when it moves into gear. It’s every minute of every day of our waking lives. It overpowers everything.

“For my daughter, the garden was her safe space. She’d go out, dance and play. She’s 12 and she missed the entire summer because of the dust, the noise, the workers and the HGVs. It’s an entire summer spent indoors from someone who loves the outdoors.”

Paula Boardman, who has lived in her home for 18 years, believes the construction has caused a hole in her floor and a crack in the side of her home. Like the other campaigners who spoke to The Independent, she is struggling with adapting to the change to her area and the impact it has had on her family home.

She said: “Where the extension is, there’s a big crack coming down the wall. That was back in March or April and as time’s gone on, that crack has gone wider and longer and progressed quite a lot.

“The floor’s continued to progress – it’s literally a hole in the floor now and it’s dropped even more. We’ve got a lot of cracks in the extension down the walls.”

Ms Boardman added: “I was sitting here the other night and I thought, ‘I’m sure I can live with it, I’m sure it’ll get better’. It doesn’t.

“Sitting at night, you just see it – it’s taken all our natural light, It’s frustrating and upsetting. You put so much money and love into your house and after 18 years you’re left with this.”

In response, a PLP spokesperson told The Independent: “PLP is delivering the scheme strictly in accordance with the planning consent granted by Wigan Council to provide a future proofed sustainable development which will provide jobs and inward investment into the borough.

“PLP and its site delivery team values its relationship with all stakeholders and continues to manage the construction of the project to the highest standards.”

Sunderland’s rivalry with Newcastle brings back old school edge

In victory, there was one last act of revenge for Sunderland players to perform against the North East rivals they love to torment in the Premier League.

They twisted the knife with a fist-shaking, celebratory squad photo in front of their jubilant fans – a mocking hit back that was two years in the making.

Last time they met, Sunderland were rebuilding, and were hammered 3-0 on their own turf. Eddie Howe moved his usual dressing room victory picture – a tradition from his Bournemouth days – onto the public forum of enemy grass.

It was provocative, and designed to hurt the Wearside locals. But Wear-Tyne derby memories are long and revenge was served up after a red-hot finale full of skirmishes.

Only a Nick Woltemade own goal separated the tussling clubs. While there is excitement and wonder at the way Sunderland’s return to the top flight is unfolding, Howe’s campaign is on a knife edge, risking a negative swing in momentum and mood.

This was one of the worst derby performances from Newcastle.

Sunderland have now won seven of the last eight Premier League games against Newcastle, who have not won in 10 attempts dating back to 2011. That represents a problem for the Geordies as they struggle to get out of the bottom half with just one away win in eight games.

No such league worries for the Mackems who soar high and have an outside chance of finishing in the top seven if they maintain their unbeaten home record.

This is a precarious moment for Howe and Newcastle’s season. They are jaded by European action, yet their Champions League campaign has brought three wins in six games and a chance of qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time ever.

Their Carabao Cup defence is going well – a win against Fulham in midweek would claim another semi-final.

But their Premier League campaign is faltering, made rotten by dreadful away form. They’ve won only once, at Everton, and gained only six points on their travels

So let the Geordie inquest begin. A malfunctioning front three. The form, or lack of it, of Anthony Elanga. The lack of fight, emotion and control. It will be a bumpy few days.

“That is going to sting for a long time,” admitted Howe in an honest apology. “One big moment went against us, a bizarre goal to lose with. Criticism will be strong and it will hurt so much. I am sorry for our performance and the lack of goalmouth action. We were not good enough.

“One game will not define our season. It is a season of stops and starts. We have not got the momentum we want.”

The rarity of this rivalry added an edge if not footballing quality.

Not for almost 10 years had the cities met in the league after Sunderland’s tumble down the pyramid including four seasons in League One.

For that reason the return of one of the Premier League’s fiercest derbies was far from parochial. It put a global spotlight on a club rejuvenated on the pitch with a £167m summer spending spree to tear up last season’s promoted side with 14 new players.

Former co-owner and strike legend Niall Quinn would speak of Sunderland being in the top flight as the area’s shop window to the world. Even when the last league derby was held at the Stadium of Light in October 2015 – a 3-0 Mackem win – there wasn’t this scale of interest, with 10 foreign commentary crews and 200 media.

Outside the stadium an hour before kick-off, red and white flares and flags greeted Regis Le Bris’s players – and chants of “scum” aimed at the visitors.

A feisty welcome, yes, but a cauldron of hate would be overstating it. Sometimes the fear of losing these clashes quells the ferocity. As did an army of police, a helicopter escort and drones, keeping order on the front line. Real emotion came later in victory.

Thankfully there was no repeat of the peak animosity between these two, of Paolo Di Canio knee-slides and Bud the police horse, punched by a Tyneside fan.

Back in the 17th century the cities were divided by politics, royalist Newcastle opposed to Sunderland’s backing of parliamentarian rebels. The birth of this modern-day football skirmish, maybe, but these days more about Newcastle’s greater economic power in the region, Sunderland’s scrapping for recognition, and two ultra-loyal and passionate fanbases, united in wanting a team to match their fervour.

The home side dominated the early possession and pundit Gary Neville criticised Howe’s cautious tactics. Howe admitted: “Our plan was to be compact and solid. In the second half we changed and wanted to be more aggressive and front foot, but conceded immediately. Was there a bit of fatigue in our performance? Yes, but that is not an excuse.”

Newcastle sat deep, soaking up pressure, and when they did break it was without conviction and lacked precision in their crossing and final balls. Struggling £50m new signing Elanga repeatedly gave the ball away and England’s Anthony Gordon was off key.

There were elements of derby day blood and thunder to keep it bubbling in a scrappy first half. Nordi Mukiele was booked for a thundering 50-50 on Dan Burn which resulted in a trip to hospital with a potential broken rib and difficulties breathing.

But by that stage, the 40th minute, Newcastle’s xG was 0, and the home side’s 0.11, and the only real chance of the first half saw Dan Ballard nod over from Granit Xhaka’s cross.

It’s an occasion for heroes or villains, and the hope for a moment that creates the legend of the day to be remembered and relived for decades to come.

And so that moment came, and it will give Nick Woltemade nightmares.

Without any of their players having a shot on target, Sunderland were ahead a minute after the break, with Woltemade, the Germany striker, heading into his own net.

Mukiele threw in a cross to the front post causing Woltemade to stretch and power past Aaron Ramsdale. “I hope Nick won’t take it personally,” said Howe. “It was unfortunate and I don’t hold him responsible.”

Sunderland had something to protect. And Howe was seeing an argument to replace his entire front three, acting before the hour to bring on Jacob Murphy, Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock.

It was the 61st minute when Bruno Guimaraes had the visitors’ first shot on target, a long-range gamble. Wilson Isidor tested Ramsdale with Sunderland’s only shot on target, but still Newcastle failed to respond with anything clinical.

Le Bris said: “I am proud and happy. It was a well-deserved win and the lads were incredible. We showed a good level of maturity. We have to stay respectful. Enjoy it.”

In injury time there were multiple minor scraps and bouts of shoving as it boiled over, Fabian Schar at the centre. If nothing else proof both clubs matter again. Both are competing again. Both on the map in their Northern outposts.

Haaland strikes twice to seal victory in Premier League clash

Manchester City maintained their pursuit of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table with a 3-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

The visitors had been distanced by late drama for the league leaders yesterday but moved back to within two points of their potential title rivals thanks to a double from Erling Haaland and fine strike from Phil Foden. Pep Guardiola’s side did not have things their own way by any means, though, with Yeremy Pino and Adam Wharton striking the woodwork in either half with Palace perhaps the more consistently threatening of the two sides.

But Haaland, who had few touches in the first half, popped up to powerfully head home the opener from Matheus Nunes’s cross just before the interval, before Foden drilled home a second 20 minutes from time. With Palace pressing to cause late drama, Savinho broke free to earn a penalty, which Haaland cooly slotted home in the final moments. Crystal Palace remain fifth having been overtaken by Chelsea on Saturday.

Follow all of the latest from Selhurst Park with our live blog below:

Education for all: How your skills could make you a great teacher

From construction and engineering to hospitality and beauty, Further Education teaching opens up doors to a wide range of careers. Encompassing a range of technical and vocational courses and qualifications for those over 16 who aren’t studying for a degree, it offers a more hands on, industry-led approach to learning.

Further Education offers a more focused, vocational approach and a fast-track into the workplace. It allows you to build on your existing skills and experience while shaping the next generation of professionals in your field. To find out more, we spoke to Further Education students and teachers about how it works and what they get out of it.

Further Education qualifications can be started from the age of 16. “It’s a step up from school but it doesn’t involve so much independent learning and research as many Higher Education degrees,” explains Susan Simmonds, 52, a Further Education lecturer in Land and Wildlife Management at Sparsholt College Hampshire. “During this time, learners gain so much maturity and a qualification that can take them out into industry,”

Sometimes this study might be full-time in college, while other Further Education opportunities offer apprenticeships, with students gaining qualifications while working on the job. Overall, the courses are generally more practical and directly linked to industry and preparing learners for their future careers. “These courses give students a wide range of relevant experience, knowledge and skills during a time when they’re maturing, and becoming ready to transition into the world of work,” Susan says.

There are often myths and misconceptions about the world of Further Education. From the learner side, many people don’t necessarily realise the opportunities available to them through Further Education, as Meri, 17, who is studying an Extended Technical Diploma in Land and Wildlife Management Level 3 at Sparsholt College, explains. “Many people I have spoken to don’t realise there are multiple ways to prepare for a career in industry, and that courses like mine can open those doors.”

For Meri, it’s been a really positive experience, and one that has helped prepare her for the workplace. “The college has a lot of contacts with industry and the assignments we do are similar to professional reports.” Meanwhile, Zach, 17, who is on the same course, has also thrived at the Further Education college: “I have been able to meet far more friends and great people and I feel as though it has helped me grow. It’s also provided many opportunities to experience real-world practical work.”

For those training or working as Further Education teachers, often after years spent in a specific industry sector, it’s the students that make their new career so rewarding. David Hobson, 54, who teaches the Motor Vehicle course at Stockton Riverside College, found that the job satisfaction he gets from sharing his personal know-how with the next generation of workers has kept him in Further Education teaching for 16 years. “The benefits of passing on my skills to young people keep me going. It’s an opportunity for me to equip learners with the industry skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their careers”

Susan, who teaches Further Education part-time alongside her work as a Community Ecologist, has had a similar experience: “I find the work really energising. Young people are so full of life and enthusiasm that I come home feeling uplifted.”

Whether it’s part-time alongside your current job or a switch to full-time teaching, Further Education teaching can be a really rewarding and valuable career move.

Teaching in a mixture of colleges (often General Further Education Colleges or Sixth Form Colleges) and Adult and Community Learning Centres, as well as workplace and apprenticeship settings, it can fit around your life and other commitments. While typical full-time contracts are around 35 hours a week, there are also some part-time or flexible options available.

Real world industry experience across a wide range of jobs can set you on a path to becoming a Further Education teacher, with opportunities in everything from construction and healthcare, to engineering, digital, hospitality, tourism and beauty. You don’t always need teaching qualifications to start teaching in further education, you can undertake training on the job which is often funded by your employer.

If, like Susan and David, you see the appeal of sharing the industry knowledge and skills you’ve developed with the next generation, exploring the option of becoming a Further Education teacher can be a great next step. As David points out, “You won’t know how enjoyable it is until you try it.”

Looking for a new role that’s rewarding, flexible and draws on your current career? Why not consider sharing your experience where it matters most – helping inspire the next generation of workers in the field you love? Visit the Further Education website to find out more

How Belarus is using smuggling balloons to sow chaos in Lithuania

On Saturday, US President Donald Trump’s envoy John Coale said that Alexander Lukashenko, the president of Belarus, had promised to stop weather balloons flying from his country into Lithuania.

It came just days after the Lithuanian government was forced to declare a state of national emergency in response to a surge in balloons flying across the border from Belarus, many of them smuggling cigarettes.

In the past year, experts say that some 600 balloons linked to smuggling and 200 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting a temporary border shutdown and causing havoc at Vilnius airport.

The balloons are thought to have transported tens of thousands of contraband cigarettes over the border. Last weekend, authorities said they seized almost 40,000 packets of cigarettes from just 11 balloons.

Usually, balloons cross the border at night to avoid detection. Once they land, illegal couriers use SIM/GPS-enabled tracking devices to locate them.

Lukashenko, a close ally of Russia, has denied state involvement in the smuggling, arguing it is carried out by criminals taking advantage of low prices in his country.

But Pavel Slunkin, visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, says that this kind of smuggling is “built into the government”. The balloons could be a ploy to pressure Lithuania into entering negotiations with Lukashenko’s dictatorial regime, he suggests.

Relations between Lithuania and Belarus have long been strained, but tensions escalated in October, when Lithuania closed two border checkpoints between the countries for three weeks. In response, Belarus banned Lithuanian lorries from its roads, halting trade. Hundreds of vehicles are still stranded in the country.

Lithuania’s border tracking data shows a threefold increase in balloons crossing into the country in 2025 compared to the previous year. The most recent wave has been unusually disruptive to aviation, with a cluster of missions concentrated around Vilnius Airport from October into December.

This has prompted the Lithuanian government to declare “a nationwide emergency situation”, allowing government institutions to coordinate more closely and enlist the support of military units.

Dr Rasmus Nilsson, a lecturer in Russian Foreign Policy and Post-Soviet Politics at University College London, suggests the decision to declare an emergency situation is linked to a lack of trust in Nato.

He told The Independent: “Given recent policies and statements emanating from the United States, there is a fear in this part of Europe that local members of Nato will be abandoned in the face of attacks (hybrid or overtly military) from Russia and Belarus.

“While Vilnius might not see such a scenario unfolding in the immediate future, it sees every reason to highlight potential threats from the east to remind other Nato members of its potentially precarious position at the eastern flank of the alliance.”

Why the balloons have destabilised Lithuania

The balloons have caused significant disruption to flights, with more than 350 having been delayed, diverted or cancelled since October alone. The financial losses stemming from this now exceed €750,000.

Mr Slunkin suggests the balloons are part of a more overarching strategy. “There is a concept in Russian [and therefore Belarussian] national strategy,” he said. “They call it ‘escalate to deescalate’ – when you increase stakes for the other side to be so high that they wouldn’t be willing to go that far.”

Belarus, he suggests, is seeking to escalate tensions with Lithuania while cosying up to the United States – weakening a key alliance. President Trump has expressed admiration for Lukashenko in the past, calling him “the highly respected president”. Mr Coale, his new envoy, visited Minsk on Friday to negotiate the release of 1,400 political prisoners.

How it forms part of Putin’s ‘hybrid war’

The Lithuanian government has said the emergency comes in response to a series of “hybrid attacks” by Belarus, in reference to the “hybrid war” that Russia has waged against Western nations since the invasion of Ukraine.

The term describes a military strategy that combines conventional fighting techniques with cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns and drone incursions. Moscow consistently seeks to distance itself from responsibility for such attacks, but the increasing frequency of cases linked to Russia has led most Western governments to conclude they form part of Putin’s strategy.

In the UK, numerous cyberattacks, including those targeting the NHS, have been linked to Russia, while drones have been spotted at major airports across Europe. Russia has denied all connection.

Mr Slunkin says Lithuania has two choices: “You negotiate [with Belarus] or you hope the EU and others will deal with the situation.” So far, Lithuania has chosen the latter.

Haaland at the double as Manchester City battle past Crystal Palace

Manchester City moved back to within two points of the Premier League summit with an impressive 3-0 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Goals in each half from Erling Haaland and Phil Foden then a late Haaland penalty ensured City got their fourth league victory in a row to keep the pressure on leaders Arsenal, and it was a guileful, gutsy display that was needed to see off a Palace team who had sights on the top four.

Oliver Glasner could reflect on poor finishing from his side who had multiple opportunities to hurt the visitors whilst the game was goalless. In the end it was the difference, with two unerring executions from two players in wonderful form ultimately settling the bout in favour of Pep Guardiola‘s team.

Palace’s best opening came early. Yeremy Pino kept himself onside by a gnat’s wing, took the ball down sweetly on his chest then taking the chance early lofted a half-volley that beat Gianluigi Donnarumma but struck the top of the crossbar.

Pino was Palace’s liveliest operator, hassling Nico Gonzalez off the ball then charging through the City defence who made hard work of wrestling him to a halt. Daichi Kamada too was enjoying success breaking through the midfield, releasing Ismailia Sarr down the right whose lovely cross just evaded Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Dean Henderson beat away a Foden free-kick at his near post as City finally threatened after plenty of meandering possession. It would be a warning of what was to come and in the 41st minute they led.

Matheus Nunes took up the ball on the right and sent over a big, reaching cross. Chris Richards leapt but it sailed over him, and there hanging in the air behind him was Haaland, rising high and powering a header down into the ground and past Henderson.

There was time before the break for a penalty shout from Palace when Mateta toppled over Donnarumma as the pair went for the ball. Replays suggested City’s goalkeeper got a foot to the ball before Mateta went down.

Gonzalez was struggling with Palace’s physical midfield. He lost the ball again just after half-time to Adam Wharton who cracked a low drive against the base of the post.

Henderson saved with his boot from Tijjani Reijnders’ shot after he was slipped in down the right by Rayan Cherki.

City’s France international would make a defining contribution in the 69th minute. It was his powerful run, bursting beyond three Palace players and slipping the ball off, that opened up space. He moved it to his right to Foden, who took a touch with his left and drilled expertly into the bottom corner beyond the reach of Henderson.

Palace poured players forward and put City under considerable pressure in search of a way back. That left them exposed on the break, and moments after coming on Savinho wasted no time in making an impact, streaking away on the break and being pulled down by Henderson.

From the spot, Haaland found the corner to make it three, a margin that in truth neither team deserved.

PA