Starmer vows to ‘stay the course’ in 2026 after leadership speculation

Sir Keir Starmer has pledged that his government will “stay the course” in 2026 following renewed speculation about his future as Labour leader.

In his new year message, the prime minister acknowledged life is still harder than it should be for many in the UK, acknowledging that the cost of living crisis makes it harder to eat out, take a holiday or make family moments special.

But he insisted that his government would defeat the “decline and division offered by others”, forecasting that the UK will “turn a corner” next year and that people will begin to feel “a sense of hope” in the coming months despite a slew of negative economic headlines in recent months.

His message comes as his own position comes increasingly under threat, with the economy faltering and Labour trailing Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the polls.

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, was also recently forced to deny that he is plotting to return to Westminster to oust Sir Keir as Labour leader.

The home secretary Shabana Mahmood, meanwhile, did not reject a suggestion that she would like the top job just days after a high-profile event with Sir Tony Blair, widely seen as an endorsement of her as the next leader.

In his address to the country, the PM acknowledged that “renewal is not an overnight job”, as he said the challenges his government faces “were decades in the making”.

But he insisted: “In 2026, the choices we’ve made will mean more people will begin to feel positive change in your bills, your communities and your health service.

“But even more people will feel once again a sense of hope, a belief that things can and will get better, feel that the promise of renewal can become a reality, and my government will make it that reality.”

This would include more police on the streets by March, followed by falling energy bills and a number of new NHS health hubs by April. “And with that change, decline will be reversed,” he added.

He said that he shared “the frustration about the pace of change” but that “putting our country back on a stable footing will become our strength.”

“We are getting Britain back on track. By staying the course, we will defeat the decline and division offered by others,” he added. “When Britain turns the corner with our future now in our control, the real Britain will shine through more strongly.”

In her new year message Tory leader Kemi Badenoch condemned the “politics of grievance”, which she said was telling voters “we’re destined to stay the same”.

“Things can change, but you also need to vote for the change you want to see in 2026,” she said. “I’m not giving up on our country. And I hope you won’t either.”

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said his party would go into the new year looking for election wins to “stop Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain”.

In his own new year’s pitch to voters, Mr Farage said his party would go about “fundamentally changing the whole system of government in Britain” if it won the next general election.

Reform took a seat from Labour in the Commons, winning Runcorn and Helsby in a by-election by a majority of six in May this year amid opinion poll momentum for the insurgent party. But an October by-election in Caerphilly saw Plaid Cymru beat Reform to a seat in the Senedd, by a majority of 3,848.

Stranger Things ends as fans bemoan ‘stupidest’ plot decision

Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things has come to an end after nearly a decade – but the finale has drawn wildly polarised reactions from fans.

The final episode of the show, titled “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up”, debuted on the streaming service during the early hours of New Year’s Day (in the UK), a week after the previous batch of episodes dropped.

Spoilers follow for the Stranger Things finale… you have been warned!

In the final episode of the show, the heroes from Hawkins, Indiana ultimately manage to defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), thanks to the supernatural abilities of Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp).

After Joyce (Winona Ryder) cuts off the villain’s head, Hopper (David Harbour) and Murray (Brett Gelman) rig bombs on the interdimensional bridge to the Upside Down, with Eleven seemingly staying behind in the nether world to sacrifice herself.

With a large chunk of the episode still remaining, there is then a time jump to the year 1989, and we are shown what has happened to the remaining characters – the crew has started to move on from the traumatic events of the series, and Joyce and Hopper get engaged.

In one of the final scenes of the show, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) claims that Eleven had actually faked her own death, and had managed to make it out of the Upside Down. As he speaks, we see an older Eleven wandering through a faraway place, before reaching a town.

It’s unclear whether Eleven really survived or not, with series co-creator Ross Duffer stating that “she lives on in their hearts, whether that’s real or not”.

Many viewers were critical of the finale, with the decision to eliminate Vecna so early in the episode frequently criticised on social media.

“Main villain killed halfway in, nobody important died, no explanation on henry creel origin story, & only 18 month time jump. Stranger Things finale was the stupidest f***ing ending i’ve seen right up there with The Umbrella Academy,” read one widely shared post on X/Twitter.

“The biggest mistake they made was a whole 50 minutes of the episode just being the epilogue, the could’ve used those at least 30 of those 50 minutes to make the fighting scenes better,” another fan wrote.

“Am much disappointed to that extent that I don’t even want to talk about Stranger Things,” someone else remarked.

Others, however, were more positive on the conclusion, with one person writing: “Am i the only one who enjoyed that stranger things ending?”

“Me being happy with the stranger things finale and coming on twitter to see everyone complaining,” someone else joked.

Stranger Things is available to stream now on Netflix.

Queen Camilla speaks for first time about being assaulted on a train as a teenager

Queen Camilla has spoken publicly about her experience of indecent assault for the first time, saying the incident left her “furious” and “angry”.

The attack, which was first reported in the book Power and the Palace earlier this year, took place on a train to Paddington Station when Camilla was 16 or 17 years old.

It outlined how the future Queen had hit the man with the heel of her shoe after he touched her, before reporting her attacker and seeing him arrested when the train arrived.

The Queen’s revelation came as part of a conversation about domestic violence and sexual abuse with racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

She praised the strength and bravery of Mr Hunt and his family after his wife Carol and two of his daughters, Louise and Hannah, were killed in a crossbow attack carried out by Louise’s ex-boyfriend.

She said she had “sort of forgotten” what happened to her, but had been encouraged to share her story after hearing of the attack.

“I remember something that had been lurking in the back of my brain for a very long time,” the Queen told John and Amy Hunt and the BBC’s Emma Barnett in an interview at Clarence House. “That, when I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train.

“I was reading my book, and this boy – man – attacked me, and I did fight back,” she added.

She remembered getting off the train and “my mother looking at me and saying: ‘Why is your hair standing on end and why is the button missing from your coat?’ I had been attacked.

“I was physically attacked but I remember anger, and I was so furious about it.”

The Queen said she had been encouraged to speak out by the bravery of the Hunt family, telling the programme: “When the subject about domestic abuse came up, and suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy’s, it’s something that I feel very strongly about.”

In response, Amy Hunt said: “Thank you for sharing that, Your Majesty. It takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story.”

Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt were all killed by Louise’s ex-boyfriend, Kyle Clifford, at their Hertfordshire home in July 2024. Speaking about the family’s grief, Mr Hunt said it “remains really difficult on a minute-by-minute basis”.

“You have to try and find the strength in our position to arm yourself with as many tools as possible that are going to help you get through that next hour,” he added.

In the programme, which was guest edited by former PM and Tory peer Theresa May, they also discussed the online radicalisation of young men. The Queen advocated for education and a focus on young men to ensure they do not become perpetrators of abuse.

“They may have had parents or relatives who’ve been abusive or done terrible things to them. So they’re almost brought up to believe that it’s a natural thing to do,” she said.

“But if you can get them early enough and teach them respect for women, I think that’s so important to get into schools … and the more I look at it, it is the most important thing we can do now.”

Queen Camilla has long worked with victims of domestic violence, including visiting rape centres in the UK and abroad, hosting receptions for sexual assault and domestic abuse survivors, and speaking out on the issue.

She praised the Hunt family, telling them: “I’d just like to say, wherever your family is now, they’d be so proud of you both.

“And they must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister. They’d just be so proud of you both.”

Anthony Joshua latest: Boxer released from hospital after car crash

Boxer Anthony Joshua has been released from hospital in Nigeria after the crash in which two of his friends died, authorities have said.

Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele died after the vehicle they were travelling in along with Joshua struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos on Monday.

British heavyweight Joshua sustained injuries, but was released on Wednesday, Lagos state commissioner for information Gbenga Omotoso said.

In a joint statement with Ogun state, which he posted on X, Mr Omotoso said Joshua was “deemed clinical fit to recuperate from home”.

The statement said: “Anthony and his mother were at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon to pay their final respects to his two departed friends as they were being prepared for repatriation scheduled for later this evening.”

In addition to being long-term friends of Joshua, Ghami acted as his strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was a trainer.

Britain to be blanketed with snow and ice for new year

Britons are set to begin the new year with snow showers as the Met Office issues new weather warnings.

Up to 5cm of snow is expected to cover parts of the country from midnight on 1 January as a cold snap brings frosty temperatures for many. Icy conditions are also set to cause disruption as people travel across the country following new year celebrations.

A yellow warning for snow and ice is in place from midnight until noon on Friday and covers a large swathe of England and Wales, including Chester and Greater Manchester down to London and Kent.

Separate yellow warnings are also in place for Northern Ireland between midnight and 10am on Friday, and in northern Scotland between 6am on New Year’s Day and the end of Friday.

Forecasters are warning parts of Scotland could see up to 10cm of accumulated snow by Friday as showers turn to snow north of Glasgow. The freezing conditions are then expected to move southeast across parts of England and Wales on Thursday, with blizzards predicted to last between two and three hours.

Around 1 to 2cm of snow is expected to accumulate where it falls, with 5cm possible across the higher ground of north Wales and the northwest of England.

The Met Office is advising people to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than usual in order to reduce the risk of slips and falls. It also urged people to check roads and public transport before travelling and to leave extra time for journeys.

Met Office deputy chief forecaster Mark Sidaway said: “It certainly looks like we are in for a taste of ‘winter’ as we welcome in the new year, initially in the north, but more widely across the UK for the first week of 2026.

“Arctic air and strong northerly winds will bring cold or very cold conditions to all parts of the UK, and it will feel especially cold in the strong winds. Widespread and locally severe frosts are expected, along with the first snow of the winter for many.

“A yellow warning for snow and ice has been issued for northern Scotland on New Year’s Day and beyond, where frequent and heavy snow showers may lead to some travel disruption.

“These colder conditions and wintry hazards – snow, ice and strong winds – will develop more widely as we enter the new year, with more warnings for snow and ice likely. It looks like this cold spell will last through at least the first week of January, so it’s important people keep up to date with the latest forecast and warnings.”

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has also issued more severe warnings for the start of the year.

It previously issued amber cold health alerts in the North East and North West of England.

However, yellow alerts have been upgraded to amber across the East Midlands, West Midlands, South East, South West, East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London.

These warnings will be in place from 8pm on December 31 until 10am on January 6.

The UKHSA said it means the weather is “likely” to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including a “rise in deaths” among those with health conditions or aged 65 or over.

Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in health protection at the UKHSA, said: “The weather is forecast to be very cold across England over the coming few days.

“Low temperatures like these can have serious impacts on the health of some people, particularly older people and those with serious health conditions.

“Exposure to cold can lead to increased risk of heart attacks, strokes and chest infections.

“It is therefore really important, as the colder weather sets in, to check in on friends, family and neighbours that are most vulnerable.”

A dry New Year’s Eve for much of England and Wales with sunny spells. Cloudier elsewhere with some scattered showers. A cold day, with winds increasing later in the north. Showers turning wintry over higher ground of Scotland later.

Windy with rain followed by wintry showers across Scotland. Drier elsewhere with clear spells, especially in the south. Frost and patchy mist or fog under clearer skies. Feeling cold.

New Year’s Day will be chilly and windy, especially in the north and east. Wintry showers across northern Scotland and extending down western coasts. Dry elsewhere with sunny spells.

Remaining cold with overnight frosts. Mainly dry with some sunny spells, but wintry showers likely too, especially in the north and at times extending down western and eastern coasts.

Five perfect family getaways in Catalonia’s green heart

Looking for a family holiday that combines adventure, nature, and a touch of culture? Catalonia’s green heart is bursting with possibilities, from mountain valleys where flaming torches light up midsummer skies to tranquil wetlands teeming with wildlife. Whether your crew prefers gentle hikes, ancient ruins or ski slopes and riverside trails, this corner of northern Spain offers unforgettable experiences for every age and season. Here are five destinations that prove The Pyrenees of Catalonia might just be Europe’s ultimate family playground.

Located also in Catalan Pyrenees west, near the border with France, Catalonia’s wonderful all-rounder really does have something for the whole family. In terms of culture, it’s a place rich with traditions and history. Kids of all ages will be entranced by the annual summer solstice Fallas festivals, which involve young men carrying flaming torches from high in the mountains down to their villages where they light bonfires and take part in traditional dances late into the night. Even the most heritage-resistant will surely be converted by Vall de Boí’s unmatched collection of astonishingly preserved Romanesque churches, with their evocative towers, atmospheric interiors, and beautiful settings. The area is blessed with trails that will suit the youngest of hikers, like the routes at Salencar de Barruera where you walk along the river following a paved path from a playground to the Salencar wetlands.

Located just west of Andorra near the border with France, the Valls d’Àneu was the first inland part of Catalonia to receive the DTF family tourism certification, and it’s easy to see why. All valleys and peaks, glacial lakes and seemingly endless meadows, it feels like an unspoilt Eden that’s waiting to be explored all year round. In winter, the Espot ski station is a family favourite, with its dedicated beginners area with magic carpets and a drag lift, and its large number of green and blue slopes. Throughout the rest of the year, families flock to one of the region’s great areas of natural splendour: Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park, which features more than 200 lakes with breathtaking alpine backdrops, many of them easily accessible on flat family walkways.

A few miles inland from Cadaqués in the Mediterranean, the gorgeous seaside town famous for its postcard-perfect whitewashed architecture, lies one of Catalonia’s big draws for nature-loving families: the Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park. A 47km² wetland wonderland, its varied eco-systems are home to an astonishing range of birds and animals from bitterns and marsh harriers to otters and polecats. Parents to budding history buffs are also well-served in the area, which is home to both the Citadel of Roses – a fascinating journey through time that includes Hellenistic ruins, Visigoth-era buildings and Romanesque monasteries – and the archaeological site of Empúries with its reconstructed forum. It also benefits from being one of Catalonia’s culinary hotspots with its highly regarded seafood and excellent wines for deserving mums and dads.

Situated in the west of the Catalan Pyrenees, Pirineus, Noguera Palleresa is a stunning high peak destination that offers a vast range of family-friendly activities. In the snowy season, head to the celebrated Port Ainé ski resort, which has something to suit children of all ages from sledding play areas to treetop adventure parks. In summer, beat a path to the Alt Pirineu Natural Park which has abundant paths ideal for reluctant hikers, many of them with great views of the Pica d’Estats, which at 3143m is the highest mountain in Catalonia. Lovers of adventure sports should head to Sort on the Noguera Pallaresa river, which is the region’s top spot for whitewater rafting with gentle open kayaking for littler kids and thrilling canyoning for teenagers.

The Vall de Camprodon, located in Girona province just North of the town of Ripoll, is famous for its art nouveau architecture. One of the main draws of the Vall de Camprodon is the Ter and Freser Headwaters Natural Park, with its lush valleys and thrilling backdrop of high peaks. It’s a must-visit for aspiring bird-watchers, who if they’re lucky might see Griffon vultures, golden eagles, and Eurasian eagle-owls. Little kids will love the Camprodon Valley Tourist Train, which takes passengers on a 45 minute tour of Camprodon, allowing them to explore the valley and see incredible views of the Pont Nou without too much walking. And everyone will adore the food, particularly the local specialty biscuits, which they’ve been making since the 19th Century.

Plan your sustainable trip to the Catalan Pyrenees at visitpirineus.com/en

‘10 minutes exercise can turn off genes linked to bowel cancer growth’

Just 10 minutes of exercise each day can halt bowel cancer growth and speed up DNA damage repair, a study has found.

Researchers from Newcastle University found that a short bout of exercise can trigger a rapid molecular change in the blood.

The study said that physical activity protects against bowel cancer progression, but the “underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear”.

They collected blood samples from 30 overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy, men before and immediately after a 10-12 minute exercise session, in this case in the form of a cycling test.

They then exposed bowel cancer cells to pre or post-exercise blood serum.

Acute exercise increased the concentration of 13 proteins in serum, they found.

Many of these are linked to reducing inflammation, improving blood vessel function, and metabolism.

When these exercise-induced molecules were applied to bowel cancer cells in the lab, researchers found the activity of 1,364 genes was altered, including those involved in DNA repair, energy production, and cancer cell growth.

Writing in the International Journal of Cancer, the research team said their finding offers a “potential mechanistic explanation for the protective effects of exercise against” bowel cancer.

Dr Sam Orange, senior lecturer in clinical exercise physiology at Newcastle University who led the study, said: “What’s remarkable is that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it sends powerful signals through the bloodstream that can directly influence thousands of genes in cancer cells.

“It’s an exciting insight because it opens the door to find ways that mimic or augment the biological effects of exercise, potentially improving cancer treatment and, crucially, patient outcomes.

“In the future, these insights could lead to new therapies that imitate the beneficial effects of exercise on how cells repair damaged DNA and use fuel for energy.

“These results suggest that exercise doesn’t just benefit healthy tissues, it may also create a more hostile environment for cancer cells to grow.

“Even a single workout can make a difference. One bout of exercise, lasting just 10 minutes, sends powerful signals to the body.

“It’s a reminder that every step, every session, counts when it comes to doing your best to protect your health.”

Genevieve Edwards, chief executive at the charity Bowel Cancer UK, said: “Extensive research shows that people who are more physically active have a lower risk of bowel cancer as well as many other cancers.

“We should be aiming for at least 150 minutes of activity each week, such as brisk walking, cycling or swimming.

“Other changes you can make to help reduce your risk of developing bowel cancer include eating plenty of fibre from whole grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, avoiding processed meat and limiting red meat, being a healthy body weight, stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol.

“Making lifestyle changes can be a challenge, but we believe it’s worth the effort.”

Top European court demands answers over stripping of Shamima Begum’s UK citizenship

A top European court has demanded answers over the UK’s decision to strip Shamima Begum of her citizenship after she travelled to join the so-called Islamic State at the age of 15.

The European Court of Human Rights has asked questions over whether Britain upheld its responsibilities towards victims of trafficking before then-home secretary Sajid Javid revoked her citizenship in 2019.

Home secretary Shabana Mahmood will “robustly defend” the decision to revoke Ms Begum’s citizenship, government sources have said.

Ms Begum travelled from Bethnal Green, east London, to territory held by IS a decade ago.

Ten days after arriving in Syria, she was “married off” to IS fighter Yago Riedijk, a Dutch-born convert to Islam and a convicted terrorist.

She was stripped of her British citizenship in February 2019 on the grounds she posed a threat to national security.

In 2020, the Court of Appeal ruled she should be allowed to return to the UK in order to fairly contest that decision. But a year later, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously against bringing Ms Begum back. She remains in a Syrian camp.

A document published by the European court earlier this month shows Ms Begum is challenging the decision under Article 4 of the European Convention on Human Rights – prohibition of slavery and forced labour.

One question among four posed by judges in Strasbourg to the Home Office asks: “Did the secretary of state have a positive obligation, by virtue of Article 4 of the Convention, to consider whether the applicant had been a victim of trafficking, and whether any duties or obligations to her flowed from that fact, before deciding to deprive her of her citizenship?”

Birnberg Peirce Solicitors, which is representing Ms Begum, said the court’s communication “presents an unprecedented opportunity” for the UK and Ms Begum to “grapple with the significant considerations raised in her case and ignored, sidestepped or violated up to now by previous UK administrations”.

Lawyer Gareth Peirce said: “It is impossible to dispute that a 15-year-old British child was in 2014/15 lured, encouraged and deceived for the purposes of sexual exploitation to leave home and travel to Isil-controlled territory for the known purpose of being given, as a child, to an Isil fighter to propagate children for the Islamic State.

“It is equally impossible not to acknowledge the catalogue of failures to protect a child known for weeks beforehand to be at high risk when a close friend had disappeared to Syria in an identical way and via an identical route.

“It has already been long conceded that the then home secretary, Sajid Javid, who took the precipitous decision in 2019 very publicly to deprive Ms Begum of citizenship, had failed entirely to consider the issues of grooming and trafficking of a school child in London and of the state’s consequent duties.”

She also pointed to the Labour government’s decision to make protections for victims of grooming and trafficking a national priority.

But a Home Office spokesperson said any decision made to protect national security would be robustly defended.

“The government will always protect the UK and its citizens,” the spokesperson said. “That is why Shamima Begum – who posed a national security threat – had her British citizenship revoked and is unable to return to the UK. We will robustly defend any decision made to protect our national security.”

A government source said the home secretary was prepared to fight a challenge to the decision to revoke Ms Begum’s citizenship.

“The home secretary will robustly defend the decision to revoke Shamima Begum’s citizenship, which has been tested and upheld time and again in our domestic courts. The home secretary will always put this country’s national security first,” they said.

The Conservatives said Ms Begum should not be allowed back into the UK “under any circumstances”.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Begum chose to go and support the violent Islamist extremists of Daesh, who murdered opponents, raped thousands of women and girls and threw people off buildings for being gay.

“She has no place in the UK and our own Supreme Court found that depriving her of citizenship was lawful. It is deeply concerning the European Court of Human Rights is now looking at using the ECHR to make the UK take her back.”