Ex-Mail editor has ‘vague memory of £3m invoices from investigators’

The former editor of the Daily Mail has said he has only a “vague memory” of a box containing invoices worth £3m from private investigators being discovered in the newspaper’s offices.

Paul Dacre, 77, told the High Court he “really didn’t know” the details behind the documents, which were uncovered by a paralegal in the managing editor’s office in October last year.

Asked about the ledgers found by lawyers, he said: “I know there has been a most enormous search by Baker McKenzie for every document in this case. I do have a vague memory of a box being found late in the day.”

Seven high-profile figures, including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and actress Elizabeth Hurley, are bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), claiming that the publisher unlawfully obtained medical information, tapped landlines and hacked their phones.

ANL has strongly denied the allegations and any wrongdoing, and argued that the claimants had brought the case too late.

In a written statement to the court, Mr Dacre said: “The grave and sometimes preposterous allegations made in these proceedings have astonished, appalled and – in the small hours of the night – reduced me to rage.”

He said allegations of phone hacking made by Baroness Doreen Lawrence have been “especially bewildering and bitterly wounding to me personally”, after the newspaper’s 15-year campaign for her son Stephen Lawrence, who was murdered in a racist attack in 1993.

On the front page of the paper’s 14 February 1997 edition, the paper labelled five men – Gary Dobson, Neil Acourt, Jamie Acourt, Luke Knight, and David Norris – as “murderers” and challenged them to sue the newspaper for libel.

Taking to the witness stand last week, Baroness Lawrence claimed that the Daily Mail was “pretending” to support her in getting justice, but just wanted the “credibility of supporting a black family”.

Her claims relate to five articles published between 1997 and 2007, with her lawyers claiming she was “extensively targeted” by private investigators working on behalf of ANL.

At the start of his evidence on Tuesday, Mr Dacre told the court: “My heart bleeds for Baroness Doreen Lawrence.”

In his written evidence, he said that it was “inconceivable” that anyone at the Daily Mail would have carried out the alleged activities.

“Throughout my 26-year editorship, this, of all my countless campaigns, many of which made a significant contribution to the public weal, is the campaign of which I am most proud and to which I devoted the most space.”

He also said it “simply defies reason” for the Daily Mail to use illegal methods to see if other newspapers were getting involved in the Lawrence campaign, later adding: “The suggestion that we ran the campaign to generate exclusive headlines, sell newspapers and profit is sickeningly misplaced and bleakly cynical.”

Mr Dacre later said the claims had had a “deeply upsetting” and sometimes “traumatic” impact on staff at the paper, adding: “I have witnessed the anguish of honest, dedicated journalists who, for three years now, have had an insidious dark shadow hanging over their lives.”

The former editor, who is now editor-in-chief of ANL’s holding company DMG Media, said journalists across Fleet Street had a “hazy understanding” of data protection during this period, and inquiry agents had been used by other papers, including the BBC.

He said: “Indeed, it was the fact that others were using these agencies that, I believe, gulled us into believing that the services they provided must be above board. If I had thought something illicit or illegal was going on, then I would have been forthright in stopping it from happening.”

Mr Dacre added that a second Information Commissioner’s Office report on privacy was a “huge wake-up call” and that he previously had not been aware of the extent his journalists had been using search agencies.

As a result, Daily Mail journalists were “blitzed” with warnings, memos and letters to comply with data protection laws, and, in April 2007, banned the use of inquiry agents altogether.

David Sherborne, representing a group of the complainants, previously told the London court that the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday had been engaged in unlawful information gathering over “at least two decades”, and “knew they had skeletons in their closet”.

He said: “There is evidence, indisputable evidence, in the documents that Associated journalists and senior executives were commissioning and approving the acquisition and use of unlawfully obtained information, and they must have known that.

“That is why we say this was no clean ship, far from it.”

The trial before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to conclude in March, with a judgment in writing due at a later date.

Disdain for Labour unites Gorton and Denton ahead of crucial by-election

Sheila Harrison, 69, has always voted Labour. Like most people in Denton, Greater Manchester, she said that when it comes to elections, there has only been one choice.

But not any more.

“I would pack Keir Starmer’s suitcase for him”, the 69-year-old tells The Independent on Manchester Road in Denton.

She says the beleaguered prime minister, currently fighting to save his premiership, “doesn’t understand the working class” and for the first time in her life, she’s voting against Labour in this month’s crucial by-election.

Engulfed in crisis, Starmer survived his toughest day as prime minister on Monday. Ministers rallied around him after he faced calls to quit from his own party, amid the fallout from the Peter Mandelson scandal.

He will attempt to move on from Mandelson, but his handling of the saga has further threatened the future of a prime minister for whom popularity is at a premium just 19 months after he came to power.

In Gorton and Denton, where the by-election could deliver the final blow to Starmer’s time in Downing Street (if he survives until polling day on 26 February), disdain is palpable.

The seat was vacated by former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne, who retired on health grounds, a year after the “Trigger Me Timbers” WhatsApp scandal cost him the party whip.

Labour now faces a perfect storm – a fight on both sides of the constituency.

That fight is expected to be against the Green Party in Gorton, made up of diverse southeastern suburbs of the city of Manchester, and against Reform in post-industrial town Denton, situated in the Greater Manchester borough of Tameside.

Both the Greens and Reform are appealing to disheartened former Labour voters like Sheila and John Harrison.

Retired pipe fitter John, 71, describes Britain as “broken”, viewing “immigration, kids with nothing to do, a lack of tidiness, lack of respect for police” as the biggest issues in Denton.

Contemplating voting for Reform, he tells The Independent that he feels let down by the government, accusing them of not delivering what was promised in their manifesto.

One change could win him back to the party, however.

“I would have voted for Andy Burnham”, he says. John sees Burnham as having more personality and being more able to connect with northern voters – he believes the Greater Manchester mayor is on his side in a way that Starmer, who he describes as “aloof”, is not.

Sheila agrees – she too would have voted for the Merseyside-born Burnham. “He’s a local, he’s a local man, whether he was from Liverpool, Manchester, whatever”, she says. “He stands for working-class people.”

Burnham, who has been mayor since 2017, could have been on the ballot, but his application was blocked by Labour’s National Executive Committee amid fears he could challenge Starmer for leadership.

It may be a move that costs the party this seat.

Retired midwife Andrea Anwyl, 77, is another lifelong Labour supporter disillusioned with the government. She may now vote Green but says she “definitely” would have voted for Burnham if he were the Labour candidate.

“I don’t like Starmer. I don’t like what he’s done”, she tells The Independent, standing in the largely empty Denton Civic Square, as few people mill between the shops which surround it.

“He promised to do this, this and this and got voted in for that. He’s not done them, as far as I know.”

Clearly, many voters in the country’s 15th most deprived constituency feel let down by a party that they believe should represent areas like theirs.

Traditionally, all corners of the seat would be Labour strongholds. The party is defending a 13,000 majority, and says only its candidate, city councillor Angeliki Stogia, can beat Reform, represented by GB News presenter and former academic Matt Goodwin.

Stogia tells The Independent that it will take time for the government to deliver change, but agreed with Starmer’s verdict that it must “go faster and we need to go deeper”.

About her election chances, she “absolutely believes” Labour can beat Reform.

She says: “We’re fighting every door. We’ve got policies. We’re listening to residents on the ground and what they want, and what they want is real action. They don’t want shouting from the sidelines.”

The Green Party and its nominee, councillor and plumber Hannah Spencer, would not agree that only Labour can beat Reform.

On the aptly named Greening Road in Levenshulme, on the Gorton side of the constituency, Green Party signs stand in several front gardens of its terraced houses. Shops along Mount Road, where the Greens have based their campaign office, display posters in support in their windows.

Outside one of them, taxi driver Muhammed Basharat, 61, from Levenshulme, tells The Independent that the Greens’ vision is “excellent”. “Education policy, foreign policy, home policy, all their policies are brilliant,” he says.

Like those contemplating a vote for Reform, he too used to support Labour. But “they disappointed us very much”, he says, citing tax rises and cuts to welfare.

Similarly, care worker Jawad Hassan, 24, believes a vote for Green is in the best interests of working people and the way to keep Reform away from power. He is not impressed by Labour’s offering.

“I don’t think they work any more for the working class,” he says, As for Reform, he says “whatever they’re doing is not good for a society where different ethnicities live together.”

At Manchester Gorton Market, mobile hairdresser Caterina Pandolfo, 65, remains undecided. Typically a Labour voter, she is put off by the prime minister and cannot forgive the treatment of Greater Manchester’s mayor.

But she will likely not be voting Reform, unimpressed by its policy offer.

She says: “The way he [Starmer] treated Andy Burnham was disgusting.

“I don’t think he’s doing very well at all, Keir Starmer, sadly,” she adds. “He could have done so much.”

At the moment, none of the parties appeals to Caterina, who says she feels alienated from the political class.

“You know, hang on a minute, we’re just normal everyday working guys,” she says. “You know, this is Gorton, for God’s sake. We’re not flipping multimillionaires, are we?”

Self-described “union man” Ian Cooney shares that feeling of detachment.

The 55-year-old electrical engineer from Gorton didn’t vote at the last general election, saying he did not trust any party to improve the area’s fortunes.

He says: “Gorton was fine years ago. I’ve lived here all my life. But we’re to a point now where it seems to be a dumping ground.”

“We seem to get a stigma when you’re living in Gorton,” he says.

Ian is leaning towards voting for Reform, believing that Labour no longer represents him.

He says: “My dad was a union guy, I’m a union man. I was brought up that way with Labour, but now their priorities are totally different from your working-class man.”

Asked why he is tempted by Reform, Ian says: “Labour have done it before, Conservatives have done it before. They’ve offered us A and B and C and it never materialised.

“Do you give them [Reform] a go and see if, see if they’re true to their word?”

FBI releases images of masked person in hunt for Today anchor Savannah Guthrie’s mother

Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing for one week, and while authorities have no proof she’s alive, they are holding out hope that she’s “still out there.”

“Right now, we believe Nancy is still out there,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told reporters during a press conference on Thursday. “We want her home.”

Investigators believe Guthrie was taken “against her will” from her home near Tucson, Arizona, between late Saturday night and early Sunday. Blood found splattered on her front porch was confirmed to be hers, Nanos confirmed Thursday.

Authorities are bringing more resources and people into the investigation, and the FBI announced Thursday it was offering up to $50,000 for information. While the department has received “hundreds of leads” related to Guthrie’s case, authorities have not identified any suspects or persons of interest. However, the Guthrie family acknowledged on Friday that they’d spoken to a suspected kidnapper and said they were willing to pay to see their mother returned.

Ransom notes sent to several media outlets are being taken seriously,” FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said Thursday. The notes demand millions of dollars in Bitcoin in exchange for Guthrie’s safe return.

“To anyone who may be involved, do the right thing,” Janke said. “This is an 84-year-old grandma.”

Here’s what we know so far:

Nancy, 84, lives in Catalina Foothills, an affluent community adjacent to the desert just north of Tucson, Arizona.

She is described as a white female, approximately 5ft 5in tall, weighing about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. It’s not known what clothing she might be wearing.

Her daughter, Savannah, is a co-host on NBC’s Today show, and her mother has occasionally appeared on the program in segments alongside her.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen around 9.30 p.m. on the evening of Saturday, January 31, at her home near Skyline Drive and Campbell Avenue, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said.

She spent Saturday night eating dinner and playing games with family members before one of them dropped her off at her home that sits on hilly, desert terrain, the sheriff said.

She was reported missing the next day, on Sunday, February 1, after she didn’t attend her regular church service.

On Thursday, Nanos revealed a more detailed timeline.

He said Guthrie ordered an Uber and left her home at 5:32 p.m. Saturday to go to the family dinner. She returned at 9:48 p.m.

“We did speak to a driver, because Nancy, we learned, had been taken the Uber to the family residence, the daughter for dinner,” Nanos said. “And we located that driver and spoke with them.”

Her garage door opened at approximately 9:48 p.m. and closed two minutes later, which investigators believe marks the time she arrived home.

Her doorbell camera was disconnected at 1:47 a.m. Sunday. But Guthrie did not have an active subscription so the company was unable to recover any footage.

Software data recorded movement at the home minutes later, at 2:12, the sheriff said, acknowledging that the motion could have come from an animal.

At 2:28 a.m., Guthrie’s pacemaker disconnected from her phone.

Family members went to check on Guthrie at 11:56 a.m. Sunday and were unable to locate her. A 911 call was made at 12:03 p.m., and deputies arrived about 10 minutes later.

Nancy Guthrie is considered a “vulnerable adult” due to her age, and Nanos said at a press conference Monday that she was “very limited in mobility.”

“We know she didn’t just walk out there, that we know,” the sheriff said, adding that her health challenges were only physical.

“Nancy Guthrie is of great sound and mind, this is not dementia-related. She is as sharp as a tack. Her family wants everybody to know, this is not somebody that just wandered off.”

She also takes medication that, if she does not have in 24 hours, “could be fatal,” Nanos said Monday.

In a video shared Wednesday, Savannah Guthrie said her mother’s health is “fragile.”

“Our mom is a kind, faithful, loyal, fiercely loving woman of goodness and light. She has grandchildren that adore her and crowd around her and cover her with kisses. Her health, her heart is fragile,” she said.

Police also flagged her health issues when she initially vanished, according to a 911 dispatch audio.

“Nancy has high blood pressure, a pacemaker and cardiac issues,” the dispatcher said.

Police believe that Nancy Guthrie was a victim of a crime.

“At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly in the middle of the night. Taken against her will includes possible kidnapping or abduction,” Nanos said earlier this week.

There were signs of forced entry at the home in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood.

NewsNation released video of dried droplets of blood on stone slabs outside her front door, leading away from the house. DNA tests later revealed belonged to Guthrie.

Police have yet to publicly identify any potential suspects.

“We’ve submitted all kinds of samples for DNA, and we’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos told reporters Tuesday.

The sheriff said investigators have believed from the beginning that Guthrie was targeted, but they don’t know whether that was because her daughter is one of television’s most visible anchors.

Earlier this week, multiple media outlets reported receiving ransom notes demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin for Guthrie’s return.

FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke said Thursday there has been “no contact” since the ransom notes were sent to media outlets.

“The family wants to be contacted,” Janke said. “They know time is of the essence. And if those that may have Nancy are watching this, the family is ready to talk, get proof of life, because there has been no contact after that ransom note went to the media.”

However, none of the letters contained proof of life, he said. Janke said the notes contained references to a deadline and a monetary demand, as well as mentions of “an Apple Watch” and “a floodlight,” but declined to provide further details.

On Thursday, a man was arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly texting Guthrie’s family members asking about the Bitcoin that was demanded in a ransom letter sent to media outlets, according to NBC News.

This comes after an FBI agent announced officials had arrested one person in connection with an “imposter” ransom demand.

The criminal complaint, which was reviewed by NBC News, says Derrick Callella sent the family members messages after hearing about Nancy’s disappearance on TV. Callella allegedly told officials he was just “trying to see if the family would respond,” according to the complaint.

Former FBI special agent Nicole Parker, a Fox News contributor, told Hannity that Nancy had likely been taken by someone with a “deep grievance”.

“I do believe that it was someone who likely knows her, knows her very well, or knows the structure of the home very well, knows that she lived alone, had their eye on her, and had the entry and exit points of the home, and is quite familiar,” Parker said.

It was clear, Parker added, that “the home itself is the crime scene,” and investigators were withholding some details to avoid compromising the ongoing case.

“There is something about it that is very strongly driving this investigation. Law enforcement has kept that quite confidential and quiet, but there is something that they have seen that is driving the sense of urgency on this.”

Initial search efforts covered the Catalina Foothills area, using drones, aircraft, ground crews and dog teams. The sheriff’s department said the FBI had offered assistance on the case and the U.S. Border Patrol had also assisted with dogs.

The area has seen sunny weather in recent days, though temperatures have dropped to between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit at night, according to AccuWeather.

Nancy’s $1 million home, located on a residential street, appears to be in a secluded area. Photos of her home show it’s surrounded by shrubbery on all sides, and some plants appear to partially block the view of her front door from the street. Her property also has a large outdoor area and a pool.

Nancy’s neighbors were asked to check their security cameras and call the Pima County Sheriff’s Department if they see anything.

Large-scale search efforts were called off, with Nanos noting: “Right now, we don’t see this as a search mission, as much as we do a crime scene.”

Deputies were back at the house on Wednesday for what the sheriff called a “follow-up” after the property had already been released back to the family. Teams continued to canvass the area on Thursday.

Nanos said Nancy lives in an area that’s “not well lit.” He described it as a “very suburban, rural area of the Tucson area, in a very mountainous side of town where vegetation is extremely thick.”

“We are still canvassing that neighborhood and other neighborhoods and still drawing down from cameras on our streets, at our intersections, with hopes that maybe we’ll find something,” Nanos told CNN.

Locals have reacted with shock and rallied to help search for Nancy.

“I just saw her two days ago [on Saturday] checking her mail,” one neighbor told Us Weekly. “She was always smiling and always asking about our family and neighbors. She was very engaged with the community. … It’s very concerning.”

Another neighbor, Morgan Brown, told the magazine that there had been “a lot of dark vans with blacked out windows” in the suburb since Nancy’s disappearance.

“There were a lot of cop cars there at first, and then it was vans, so I assumed that maybe they came across something.”

One neighbor told The Arizona Republic that officers went door to door to talk to people, asking to see any surveillance videos they had and to look through people’s backyards.

Resident Jan Henry, who lives nearby, serves as neighborhood watch lead and has been coordinating a volunteer rescue group.

“We sent out an alert to all the neighbors in our neighborhood so we could be looking for her,” Henry told local news channel KGUN 9.

Nancy’s daughter, 54-year-old Savannah Guthrie, is a co-host on NBC’s Today show and was previously a White House correspondent.

Savannah was born in Victoria, Australia, where the family was living at the time while her father worked for an Arizona-based mining company. They returned to the U.S. two years later and settled in Tucson. Savannah’s father died when she was entering her senior year at high school.

She attended the University of Arizona thanks to her mom, who had taken a job there in order to secure tuition-free education for her children.

Savannah has spoken often about how her mother supported her in her dreams of parenthood, reassuring her that it would happen when the time was right. She now has a daughter, Vale, and a son, Charley, with her husband, Michael Feldman, whom she married in 2014.

Savannah Guthrie has asked for help to “bring her home” in the wake of her mother’s disappearance, posting a faith-based message on Instagram on Monday night to her 1.2 million followers.

“Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant,” she wrote. “Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.”

In a video posted Wednesday evening, Savannah and her siblings – Annie and Camron Guthrie – acknowledged the reports of a ransom note and made a direct plea for proof their mother is alive. They said they were “ready to talk” and asked whoever has their mother to provide evidence of life.

“We need to know without a doubt that she is alive and that you have her. We want to hear from you and we are ready to listen. Please reach out to us,” Savannah Guthrie said while fighting off tears.

With her voice cracking, she addressed her mother directly, saying the family was praying for her and that people were looking for her.

“Mamma, if you’re listening, we need you to come home. We miss you,” Annie Guthrie added.

On Thursday, Camron posted his own video on behalf of his family asking the suspected kidnappers to contact them.

“Whoever is out there holding our mother, we want to hear from you. We haven’t heard anything directly,” he said in the video. “We need you to reach out and we need a way to communicate with you so we can move forward. But first, we have to know that you have our mom. We want to talk to you and we are waiting for contact.”

Then, on Friday, the family posted another message acknowledging that contact had been made with a suspected kidnapper.

In the video, Savannah Guthrie says that her family has “received your message” and “will pay” for their mother’s safe return.

“We received your message and we understand,” the Today anchor said.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,” Guthrie said. She added that her mother is “very valuable to us” and “we will pay.”

Annie is a writer and jeweler living in Tucson, according to her biography on the Arizona Commission on the Arts website. She published Instant Gratification, a book on jewelry making, in 2001. Fourteen years later, she published The Good Dark, a book of poems.

Camron is a retired military pilot, according to a social media post Savannah shared in 2018.

“I have never been more proud of my big brother. He has flown for our country for 26 years, and continues to serve proudly in the ‘Green Mountain Boys’ – the Vermont Air National Guard,” she wrote at the time.

Savannah has been absent from the Today show all week and will not be traveling to Milan, Italy, to host the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

She had also reportedly planned to stay in Italy for a week to record NBC’s morning program with her former co-host Hoda Kotb. The Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo are set to run from February 6 to 26.

An NBC Sports spokesperson said in a statement shared with The Independent, “Savannah will not be joining us at the Olympics as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time. Our hearts are with her and the entire Guthrie family as the search continues for their mother.”

Craig Melvin, who was also supposed to host Olympic Late Night from Milan from Saturday to Monday, will be staying in the U.S. as well.

People across the U.S. are voicing their support for Savannah Guthrie and her family as they search for Nancy.

President Donald Trump spoke to Savannah Guthrie directly, offering his support. He shared a Truth Social post on Wednesday evening detailing his phone call.

“I spoke with Savannah Guthrie, and let her know that I am directing ALL Federal Law Enforcement to be at the family’s, and Local Law Enforcement’s, complete disposal, IMMEDIATELY. We are deploying all resources to get her mother home safely. The prayers of our Nation are with her and her family. GOD BLESS AND PROTECT NANCY! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP,” he wrote.

New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan also offered words of support during an appearance on the Today show.

“Savannah, I am asking the Good Shepherd to find this lost sheep,” he said.

Current and former colleagues of Savannah have also offered their support, with Today co-host Al Roker urging the public to help find Nancy.

“We are praying for Savannah and her family and the return of their beloved Mom, Nancy,” Roker wrote on Instagram.

NBC News’ Kristen Welker has said she is “praying” for the family. Hoda Kotb, Savannah’s former Today co-host, shared a photo of Nancy on Instagram, including the sheriff’s department’s phone number, writing: “If you know anything.. pls help.”

NBC Sports Anchor Mike Tirico similarly voiced his support for the family, adding that “this is a time for caring about the people in your family, and we are holding Savannah near and dear to our heart, and we are praying for all of them.”

Fans also sent Savannah love on Instagram after she made her emotional plea for help.

“Praying for your lovely mom and your family. God is Almighty. Almighty is God,” one fan wrote.

Another wrote: “Sending you so much love and prayers.”

“We’re all praying for your beautiful Mom to return safely. Sending you and your family strength. We love you, Savannah,” a third said.

Any information or evidence relating to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance can be submitted to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department via this online portal. The sheriff’s department said anyone with information is urged to call: (520)-882-7463.

Man United take big silver lining from first Carrick blip at West Ham

Michael Carrick just about keeps his unbeaten record going, but most significant might be how that comes from Benjamin Sesko really picking up speed. Certainly in terms of form, but there’s also a crucial poise to the Manchester United forward’s game.

Because this latest important finish, this time in the 96th minute to follow that in the 98th against Fulham, required supreme presence of mind and technique. Sesko deftly touched in a late cross, to divert the points and secure a 1-1 draw against West Ham United.

That is likely to have some consequence on the Champions League places, but the effect on the bottom might be greater.

West Ham might have got a valuable point but they will know this could have been so much more, not least for Tottenham Hotspur.

Just after 10 o’clock, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side had their great London rivals within three points of the relegation, as the prospect rose of a club as huge as Spurs – and a Super League founder – actually going down.

For West Ham’s part, this point may still be valuable in that chase. Direction of travel is only going one way right now.

And, to Nuno’s credit, that same momentum also stunted Manchester United here. Carrick loses his perfect record, his side failing to win a fifth successive game.

They didn’t really do enough to raise the hairs on the back of your neck here, and required a striker’s instinct.

That might have partly been down to the fact it was the first time he had a midweek game, but felt largely due to Nuno’s approach.

And there is a wider point there.

As rousing as so much of Carrick’s time has been so far, the curiosity is that it is these matches – the ones you really have to dig down for – that are going to be most determinative of how his time in charge actually goes.

While you only have to point to Ruben Amorim’s time to show it isn’t exactly “easy” to get up for the big games, they do kind of take care of themselves in how the gameplans are more obvious, and involve a basic defiance, with all of that then amplified by the atmosphere.

These sort of games have none of that, even allowing for the historic antipathy from West Ham towards United. It’s not like Nuno Espirito Santo really plays on that kind of emotion, after all.

No, he’d rather keep it tight and see what they can get on the counter.

It’s the sort of approach that really suppresses an opposition’s momentum, ensuring games like this can very quickly become long slogs. The mood shifts.

Different questions are asked, but the answers tell a bit more about the basic state of the team.

A team also has to go a bit deeper to find the same spark.

They need to build, and construct play.

And this is what has really separated the top coaches from the rest over the last 15 years. It is implementing ideologies that raise your level regardless of the game.

And while it’s obviously unfair to expect Carrick to do that in a matter of weeks, the key point is that is going to be the challenge. That is how you really make yourself Manchester United manager.

He clearly tried to change something at half-time.

And it was typically when United started to step up that West Ham found the space that Nuno had been patiently waiting for. Carrick’s side had started to find Bruno Fernandes more, and were finally trying to get options around him. From there, West Ham pounced. Soucek started the move by pushing the ball on towards Jarrod Bowen, and kept going. The forward then took a moment of pause before picking exactly the right ball across the box, Soucek then getting an almost imperceptible touch to divert it past Senne Lammens.

It only intensified that challenge for Carrick, and not just because he needed to score two, but because West Ham could sit even deeper and tighter. There was now even less space to work into.

That was emphasised when United finally had the ball in the back of the net. Casemiro had scored a header, but he’d had to stray offside in order to find those crucial extra centimetres. The Brazilian immediately gestured that he knew it was borderline.

That had come from a relatively speculative cross, which was typical of the performance. United were at their most ponderous for some time. Bryan Mbuemo, in trying to make something happen, just kept running into a wall of bodies. West Ham, to their credit, had succeeded in suppressing the game… but only to a certain extent.

The one problem with playing so deep is that you cede space in other areas, and invite more and more attacks.

It is ideal for a big number-nine… if you’ve got one. United have one who might yet be one of the most promising in the game.

Sesko perpetuated his promising form with maybe his best strike yet.

It was the finish United needed, and the moment Spurs were crying for.

On the evidence of what West Ham actually did, though, this relegation battle has a long way to go – and may reach a scale rarely seen. It could get hair-raising.

Why Gran Hotel Taoro is Tenerife’s must-book luxury stay for 2026

Tenerife’s iconic Gran Hotel Taoro holds a special place in Spanish history. As the first luxury hotel in Spain, opening its doors in 1890, it was a glamorous haven for high society, welcoming everyone from King Alfonso XIII and the Duke of Kent to author Agatha Christie.

Now, after a complete renovation, the landmark hotel has been reborn as an elegant 21st-century destination that’s ready to welcome you for the ultimate five-star break.

The hotel’s carefully preserved neo-classical architecture exudes old-world elegance, while colonial-inspired interiors in earthy tones and modern five-star comforts promise a stay that feels both timeless and contemporary.

Set on a lush hilltop in northern Tenerife and overlooking the historic town of Puerto de la Cruz, the hotel’s 199 rooms and suites make the most of its enviable location, featuring breathtaking panoramic views of Mount Teide – the highest point in Spain – the Atlantic Ocean, and the palm-dotted greenery of its terraces and surrounding botanical parks.

Prepare to embark on an unforgettable culinary journey throughout your stay, with exceptional restaurants celebrating local and international flavours.

At fusion restaurant OKA, helmed by Michelin-starred chef Ricardo Sanz, Japanese fine dining is given a mouthwatering Mediterranean twist.

Two-Michelin-starred chef Erlantz Gorostiza is the mastermind behind two more restaurants: Spanish gourmet bistro Amalur, with a menu inspired by the four elements; and fine dining restaurant Lava, whose exclusive setting includes a Chef’s Counter for six guests.

Breakfast at Atlantico Buffet is the perfect way to start the day as you savour delicious dishes alongside terrace views. For leisurely poolside lunches, La Carola is the place to be, serving Mediterranean flavours and crisp Canarian wines with a generous side of Tenerife sunshine.

Secure your holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with British Airways Holidays and enjoy a great-value holiday with quality and peace of mind. You’ll benefit from ATOL protection from the moment you book, a 24-hour helpline and a generous checked baggage allowance. Book your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments* – so all that’s left to focus on is enjoying your holiday in style.

If you upgrade to Club Europe, you’ll enjoy a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, and priority check-in and boarding. Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

Spend your days at the Gran Hotel Taoro relaxing by three heated pools, set amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and providing a postcard-perfect setting for some downtime.

If you want to up the relaxation factor further, head to the serene sanctuary of the Sandara Wellness Center, which offers a range of exclusive treatments in partnership with luxury French brand Anne Semonin.

Guests who want to explore the history, culture and natural wonders of the local area – including Puerto de la Cruz, the oldest tourist destination in the Canaries – can take advantage of the hotel’s new X-Plora programme, offering a range of tailor-made experiences both within and beyond the hotel grounds through the dedicated concierge team.

More than a luxury retreat, Gran Hotel Taoro is a grand hotel reborn: a destination where heritage, culture and five-star service come together in one of Tenerife’s most treasured and authentic settings. Book with British Airways Holidays to experience this Spanish icon’s remarkable return in 2026.

British Airways Holidays packages include a generous checked baggage allowance for each customer and come with full ATOL protection for complete peace of mind. Secure your Tenerife holiday to Gran Hotel Taoro with a low deposit and enjoy flexible payments until you fly*.

*Based on two sharing. Full balance due four weeks before departure. Subject to availability. T&Cs apply. **Subject to availability

• Secure your holiday with a low deposit and spread the cost with flexible payments.*

• All holiday packages include a generous checked baggage allowance.

• ATOL protection from the moment you book your holiday package giving you financial reassurance.

• Quality car hire with no hidden fees, 24-hour support and roadside assistance.

• Upgrade to Club Europe (Business Class) for a host of additional benefits including lounge access,** increased checked baggage allowance, delicious food and drink options and dedicated check-in and priority boarding.

• Members of The British Airways Club benefit from collecting Avios, earning tier points and using Avios towards the cost of holiday packages.

Viking Age mass grave unearthed near Cambridge with remains of ‘extremely tall’ man

A group of students on a training dig have unearthed a Viking-era mass grave on the outskirts of Cambridge containing the dismembered remains of an “extremely tall” man who had seemingly undergone brain surgery.

The remains found by the Cambridge University students are suspected to be of people executed during, or following a battle, around the 9th century AD.

The pit, measuring about 13ft by 3.2ft, contained remains of 10 individuals based on the number of skulls present. At least one of the buried individuals was decapitated.

One of the buried men was 6ft 5in in stature, which is “extremely tall” for the time when average height in the region was around 5ft 6in, according to archaeologists.

This particular individual was somewhere between 17 and 24 years old, with evidence indicating he may have had a hormone-related growth condition like gigantism, researchers say.

Scientists found his skull had a large oval hole about 1in in diameter, suggesting he underwent trepanation – an ancient surgical procedure in which a hole is bored through a living human’s skull.

The procedure was thought to relieve symptoms of conditions like migraines and seizures.

“The individual may have had a tumour that affected their pituitary gland and caused an excess of growth hormones,” said archaeologist Trish Biers from the University of Cambridge.

“Such a condition in the brain would have led to increased pressure in the skull, causing headaches that the trepanning may have been an attempt to alleviate,” Dr Biers said.

Researchers are also puzzled by the discovery of several dismembered remains alongside fully articulated bodies in the mass grave.

One man appears “clearly beheaded”, they say, based on chop marks near the jaw. Some of the other skeletons also show traces of trauma consistent with combat.

But archaeologists are unsure if they were victims of a battle.

Instead, the individuals with severed remains may have been victims of a “terrible violence and perhaps an execution”, scientists say. There were four complete skeletons, with some in positions suggesting they were tied up, and dismembered remains, including a cluster of skulls and a stack of legs.

“Those buried could have been recipients of corporal punishment, and that may be connected to Wandlebury as a sacred or well-known meeting place,” said Oscar Aldred, director of the Cambridge Archaeological Unit.

“It may be that some of the disarticulated body parts had previously been displayed as trophies, and were then gathered up and interred with the executed or otherwise slaughtered individuals,” Dr Aldred said.

During 870AD, the area in England was on the “frontier zone” in a conflict between the Saxon-run kingdom of Mercia and the kingdom of East Anglia, researchers say. The mass burial also offers insights into the status of the region.

While in the late 8th century AD Cambridge was under the kingdom of Mercia, in the late 9th century, a Viking army set up camp close to the area and sacked the town.

“Cambridgeshire was a frontier zone between Mercia and East Anglia, and the continual wars between Saxons and Vikings as they clashed over territory across many decades,” Dr Aldred said.

“We suspect the pit may relate to these conflicts,” he said.

The training dig was part of Cambridge University’s undergraduate degree in archaeology, in conjunction with Cambridge Archaeological Unit and local charity Cambridge Past, Present and Future, which owns Wandlebury.

UK’s busiest railway station to undergo £1.2bn redevelopment

Controversial plans for the redevelopment of London Liverpool Street railway station have been granted planning permission.

The City of London’s planning committee gave the green light on Tuesday to Network Rail’s proposals for the Grade II listed site.

The £1.2 billion project includes the construction of a 97-metre (318ft) mixed-use tower block directly over the concourse of the UK’s busiest railway station.

Network Rail has insisted its plans respect the station’s “unique heritage”.

But actor Griff Rhys Jones, who is president of the Victorian Society and the Liverpool Street Station Campaign (Lissca), claimed it was a “sad day for the City of London”.

He said: “A disfiguring billion pound office block on top of a major heritage asset is not essential to the City’s development plans.

“It is doubtful whether it will easily provide the profit to ‘improve’ the concourse, and can only realise a small amount of extra space for the passenger.

“Its focus is retail opportunities which the commuter doesn’t need.

“It will destroy an existing conservation area. It demolishes listed buildings. It is harmful to the surrounding historic fabric.”

Rhys Jones accused the City of London of having “bowed to developer ambitions, set a bad precedent for London and (ignored) the user”.

Lissca said it has “the backing of thousands of supporters” and will “now await the decisions of the Mayor of London and, if necessary, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government”.

Network Rail said its plans include improvements such as:

Ellie Burrows, managing director for Network Rail’s Eastern region, said: “This decision represents a key step towards the transformation of Britain’s busiest station and marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Liverpool Street.

“Our plans focus on improving the everyday experience for passengers whilst respecting the station’s unique heritage.

“With annual passenger numbers forecast to grow to 158 million, this approval ensures the station will be future proofed for decades to come.”

Figures from regulator the Office of Rail and Road show the estimated number of entries and exits at Liverpool Street in the year to the end of March 2025 was 98.0 million.